Deciduous, medium-sized fruit tree. Description: Medium-sized, greenish yellow fruit flushed, mottled and streaked various hues of pink, red, and crimson; dense, crisp and tender flesh with a tart-sweet balance of flavor.Habit: Grows to 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; tree is grafted on MM111 semi-dwarfing rootstock. Culture: Prefers deep, moderately rich soils and full sun; requires additional pollinator (apple variety) for improved fruit production and fruit shape. Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 through 7. Attributes: Edible fruits, attracts bees According to Beach in Apples of New York, 1905, this apple was first grown before 1805 by nurseryman M. Caleb Ralls in Amherst County, Virginia, just across the James River from Thomas Jefferson's retreat home, Poplar Forest. An interesting theory holds that it was introduced to this country in 1785 from Normandy, France by Citizen Genet, the French minister to the United States when Jefferson was secretary of state. In modern times, the late flowering Ralls Genet has played a role in the creation of the Fuji, a major commercial variety developed from the cross of Ralls and Red Delicious. This tree will ship bare root. One year grafted M111 is approximately 4-5' tall. Bare root planting tips: If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center. Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery. Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.
| 