What apples would you choose?

[Northernrose]

I'm planning which trees to plant for my fruit orchard. We just moved here and I'm starting with a blank slate. I want to plant cherries, plums, pluots, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, asian pears, nectarines and apples. What can I say.....I'm a fruit-aholic!

There are so many apples to choose from! Which are your favorites? Let's say your top 5 apples for a balance of fresh eating and baking apple pies.

Here is the link to the nursery from where I will be getting the trees.

http://www.davewilson.com/br40/br40_trees/apples.html#Pettingill

 

[journey11]

I love golden delicious for pies, baking and fresh eating. Good all-around apple.
Mutzu is one of my favorites for apple butter.
I bought a Bonnie Best last year because I heard it was a blue-ribbon pie apple...which is my main perogative when it comes to an apple tree. Haven't gotten fruit off of it yet.

 

[bid]

I would include a pippen or 2 in an orchard. I think it is an excellent all purpose apple. Great for eating fresh or cooking. The same goes for winesaps. Maybe add in a gala or fuji or both? Jonathan is another good variety. There's my 5.

 

[Lavender44]

Ha, that is funny I like both gala and fuji apples!

 

[vfem]

I got red johnathon for eating and it crosses nicely with green lodi, which are good for eating but great for baking and apple sauce! So we got 4 of them!

I agree with getting cherry if you can win the battle against the birds... I want cherry... but we ran out of space after 4 apple, 3 peach and 2 pear! (Anjou and Asian pear... mmmm)

 

[MrsGardener]

My favorite all around apple is the Winesap!!! Yummy and holds a good texture in anything you make with them. Slightly tart but very fresh and crisp tasting right off the tree. Good luck!

ADDED INFO:
A large red apple that is the most popular winter keeper with a tart, rich, wine like flavor. This is a triploid; it cannot pollinate other apple trees. (Pollinate with Red or Yellow Delicious, Jonathan or Early Harvest) (zones 5 - 8)

Winesap apples are a favorite backyard orchard crop. Grow Winesap apples to eat in the winter, as they keep well for months. Winesaps have a crisp texture and a tart flavor, and are often used to make applesauce and apple pies. Winesap apples grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8 and need to be planted near another type of for proper pollination.

 

[skeeter9]

Oh my! I love apples!!!

Here are some of my favorites:

Arkansas Black - not very common - very dense texture and amazing flavor. Not your everyday ho-hum apple.

Cortland

Empire

Gravenstein

Mutsu

 

[Northernrose]

I'm narrowing down my choices: But not limiting them
I like the idea of growing old "heirloom" varieties as well as some newer modern apples.

My selections so far:
Anna
Arkansas Black Spur
Ashmead's Kernel
Fuji or Red Fuji
Pink Lady
Sierra Beauty- said to grow well in my area
Scarlet Surprise - sounds interesting with red flesh!
Tydeman's Late Orange
Hudson's Golden Gem
White Winter Pearmain
Winesap

Plus: for jelly

Dolgo Crabapple
Transcendent Crabapple

 

[dragonlaurel]

Those are some nice apples.
You might ask the ext service what diseases are a problem in your area. Then see if your favorites are more tolerant/resistant or weak about those diseases. They are likely to promote newer varieties, but you can still find out basic info from them.

 

[ninnymary]

The only apples I buy are Fuji's...o.k..and granny smith for apple pies.

I don't like tart apples and the fuji's are sweet and crisp. Just the way I like them.

Mary