FRUIT TREE IMAGE GALLERIES
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FRUIT CONNECTIONS FRUIT TREE SELECTION
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THE FRUIT CONNECTION DIFFERENCE - Unlike with many other fruit tree suppliers, our fruit trees are grown by traditional methods and are sold “bare-root”. The trees are grown in nurseries on the farm, on-site, in Geneva, NY. They are dug from the nursery and are kept dormant in climate-controlled surroundings until they are placed in their permanent homes- sold to the public, or planted in the orchards. The young, bare-root trees should be planted immediately upon purchase and not allowed to dry out. All the following trees are grown on dwarf rootstocks and will give a tree approximately 4’-5’ wide and 8’ tall. *Apple trees should be cross-pollinated with another apple tree, either domestic or wild, to improve yield.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS - PLANT THE TREE IMMEDIATELY, if possible AND DO NOT ALLOW THE ROOTS TO DRY OUT. If this is not possible, keep the tree in a cool location, and keep the roots moist, but not sitting in water.
Dig a hole, approximately 2+ feet deep, deep enough and wide enough to comfortably fit the tree. Soil can be amended with some peat moss but work it in well with the existing soil. Fill the hole with water and place the tree in the hole. Add the remaining soil and tamp it down so there are no air pockets. Semi-dwarf trees should be planted in well-tilled soil with the “knuckle” 3-4 inches above ground level. Plant all trees in full sun, when possible. Water young trees weekly, at a minimum, in dry weather. These varieties are semi-dwarf and will grow to 40%-50% the size of regular trees. The spacing between trees should be 8’- 10’.
OUR 2024 APPLE TREE VARIETIES
*BALDWIN
The Baldwins have been growing in the nursery for 2 plus years. Because they are more mature trees, they should start to fruit after planting the first year. Baldwins were the largest producing variety in the 1920’s- and 1930’s and are good eating apples-a tangy and tart heirloom variety. The favorite of many people.
Harvest date: October 15
*CORTLAND
Cortland is a very popular apple with the locals from New York State. It is an all-purpose variety good for salads, baking, pastries and just plain eating! The flesh of the apple will stay white after cutting, so it’s wonderful for those fresh early fall salads.
Dwarf trees are 6’ – 8’ tall, 4’ in diameter, Large Dwarf trees are 8’-10’, 5’ in diameter
Harvest date: October 1
*ENTERPRISE
2 year old trees grown on Geneva 935 rootstock. Apple scab immune which will eliminate the need for a lot of sprays. A multi-use, long-keeping apple with a tart and tangy flavor.
Harvest date around October 20
*FUJI
As the name implies, it originated in Japan and is considered as “gourmet quality”. It is long-keeping, crisp, and has intense flavors. A world- class apple!
Fruiting around October 25
*GALA
The favorite apple of many apple lovers. Usually the first to harvest in the fall. Explosive apple flavor. One of the top choices for a desert apple in the USA. This variety is a 2-year-old tree grown on Geneva 41 rootstock. A good cropper and a multi-use variety.
Harvest around September 10
*GOLD RUSH
Is a late-maturing, a Golden Delicious-type of fruit. Sweet and juicy. This is a 2-year-old tree grown on 935 rootstock. It is a large dwarf variety and will grow 8 + feet. If you would like to grow organically, this would be a good variety for you. It is a more disease resistant variety and resists scab and other fungal diseases, reducing, or eliminating the need to spray. It stores exceptionally well, long-term.
Harvest around October 25
*GRANNY SMITH
“The superb juice, and pie apple.” Great for people who love “tart”. Easy to grow. Green skin.
Harvest around October 20
*GOLDEN RUSSET
An old-time vintage variety with russeted skin, high in sugar, exceptionally ong-keeping with some acidic tart and tangy flavors. Yum!
Harvest around October 20
*HONEYCRISP
The favorite among the “the younger generation of all ages”. An incredible crisp texture, loaded with sweetness and tartness. Usually sold at a premium, when available.
Fruiting around September 15
*GOLDEN DELICIOUS
An old-time variety and, because of its spicy flavor, it is frequently used in oldie-but-goodie recipes such as applesauce, baked apples, juicing, and pies. Joe’s favorite fall apple!
Fruiting around October 10
*MARGIL
A two-year old tree on Geneva 41 rootstock. A smaller apple, known for its French culinary connection.
Fruiting around October 5
*NEWTOWN PIPPIN
A two-year-old tree, known as the Ben Franklin apple. Started from a seedling in Flushing NYC. The apple of “The Big Apple”?
Fruiting around October 26
*NORTHERN SPY
A classic old variety from Bloomfield, NY. The standard for apple pies!
Fruiting around Mid- September
OUR 2024 APRICOT TREES VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
Plant following the directions for other stone fruits- plums.
PLEASE NOTE THAT APRICOTS ARE THE FIRST TO BLOOM IN THE SPRING AND SHOULD BE PLANTED IN A PROTECTED SPOT WITH SOUTHERN EXPOSURE FOR MAXIMUM SUN. (ON A HILL, IN A PROTECTED SPOT.)
***Apricots are self-pollinating, but it’s always nice to have a friend!***
*HAROGEM
This variety has been grown on the farm in Geneva for 30 years. It ripens late-July in the Northeast and is of exceptional quality. The flesh is orange, with 30%- 50% red cheek. Exceptional quality!
Ripening around August 1
*HW460
“Joe’s Hidden Gem”
This variety is the best tasting apricot known to the team. It has been grown in Geneva for 25 years, and it ripens 10-14 days before Harogem. Unbelievable eating quality. Very orange flesh. Some red cheeks.
Ripening around July 20
OUR 2024 PEACH TREE VARIETIES
*CRESTHAVEN
Cresthaven is a freestone peach of high quality. It is wonderful for eating fresh, or for culinary use. The tree grows to about 8’ tall, and trees should be planted approximately 8’ apart. Plant on a “burm”, if possible (slightly elevated). Cresthaven is self-pollinating.
The fruit matures around the 3rd week of August.
OUR 2024 PLUM TREE VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
A larger tree than apples, these are full- sized trees and need to be planted at least 12’ apart with maximum sun potential. Plant to a depth to cover the roots and the knuckle.
*** Plums need to be cross-pollinated. Buy two!***
*EARLY GOLDEN
They usually ripen mid-July in the Northeast of the USA. If allowed to become golden color, they are of exceptional eating quality. Occasional pink “cheeks”. This is a hardy plum that can be planted in the colder climes of the USA.
Fruiting around July 20
*SATSUMA
This variety dates back to the 1890’s, developed by the legendary Lester Burbank. Burbank was a fruit breeder of notoriety. Burbank, California was named after him. The fruit is of an exceptional quality and, if allowed to tree ripen, will develop a dark red skin and red flesh. Yum!
Ripening around August 18
OUR 2024 PEAR TREE VARIETIES
DESCRIPTION-DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING
The pear trees are grown on hardy, dwarf (quince) rootstocks. This provides a smaller tree that can be planted 5 feet apart. This rootstock also helps to produce larger than normal fruit. *Pears improve in quality with cross pollination.
*BARTLETT
The number 1 pear grown in the United States. An ideal pear for canning, poaching and eating fresh. Requires off-the-tree chilling for 2 or 3 days to ripen.
Harvest end of August
*FLEMISH BEAUTY
This heirloom pear originated in Belgium in 1847. It is of exceptional quality, ripening mid to late September in the Northeastern USA. A self-pollinating pear, it will produce better with other varieties near-by. It has good cropping habits and is an exceptional keeper (keeps long in the refrigerator), and can be eaten crisp, or allowed to ripen to “melting flesh”. It is grown on OHF 87 stock and is 2/3 size of a standard tree, approximately 15’ tall x 8’ wide.
Ripening around September 15
*SUMMERCRISP- Not available at this time.
A summer pear meant to be eaten “crisp”. It ripens from the 12th-15th of August in the Northeast. The best, “first pear” of the season. Smaller in size- approximately 1 3/4” to 2 1/2” in size, with a red cheek.
Ripening around August 12-15
*HAROCRISP
Developed in Canada. A disease resistant variety that can be eaten crisp or “melting flesh” if allowed to ripen fully. Superior to the Bartlett.
Pick around Labor Day.
OUR 2024 CHERRY TREE VARIETIES
*BALATON
Balaton, originating from Hungary, is described as a tart/sour cherry but is wonderful for eating fresh or used for culinary purposes- Think Pie! Balaton is unusual in that it is red-fleshed- a surprise inside every bite! It is self-pollinating, but the quality of the fruit can improve with another friendly cherry tree close by. Originally from Hungary.
The fruit matures the 10th-15th of July.
*EMPEROR FRANCIS
Also called “Mahaleb” is a white sweet cherry with a pink cheek. An excellent and reliable cropper.
Ripening around July 5
*METEOR
A lighter colored, red tart cherry. A massive cropper! Excellent for all uses; eating fresh, pies, juice, tarts and wherever your imagination takes you!
Ripening July 20
*HUDSON
A crunchy, hard, dark sweet cherry, named in 1925 at the NYS Experimental Station, Geneva, NY
Ripening July 25
*ROYALTON
An earlier, dark large cherry of excellent, high quality.
Ripening around July 6
** WE WILL SOON HAVE ADDITIONAL VARIETIES OF FRUIT TREES AVAILABLE, AND A SELECTION OF TREE-RIPENED FRUITS TO OFFER BY MAIL ORDER! **
