Sources for Cider Apples and Perry Pears

The list below describes sources for cider apple and perry pear trees in various forms. Generally a tree is created by grafting a piece of wood called a scion from the desired variety of tree onto the top of a little tree that's been chopped off, called the rootstock. The scion determines the type of apples you'll get; the rootstock has a lot to do with the size of the tree, resistance to disease, suitability to particular soils and climates, etc. (You can't grow from seed because apples and pears don't "breed true": If you plant a seed from one variety, the resulting tree won't produce fruit that's at all like the parent.)

The forms available generally include:

• scion wood: little pieces of wood to be grafted onto a rootstock. You need to have rootstock available, and you need to know when and how to do the grafting. It's not hard, but you need to learn a little bit and have some supplies ready before you order scions.
• bench grafts: scion wood grafted to a rootstock and wrapped/waxed over. Shipped as "bare root", see next. This is just ready to start growing into a tree, so it will take 2-3 years before you actually have a tree. The advantage is that you don't have to do the grafting yourself but you can get the combination of fruit variety and rootstock you want.
• bare-root trees: small trees ready to plant. The "bare root" part means they are shipped without soil, just something to keep the roots moist in shipment. The size and age of the tree may be described by caliper, which is the diameter of the trunk, and/or in terms of the age and development: whip is just a single thin central sprout that will become the trunk; feathered and branched describe beginnings of developing branches of the tree. Don't automatically go for the largest tree available; sometimes smaller trees ship better and have less trouble getting established.

The current listings indicate the initial information we've received for Spring 2003 (for the northern hemisphere). Note that there are separate listings for the US and Canada! Please check back here from time to time, as we hope to have more listings soon. Last updated 24 February 2003.

United States

ÆppelTreow Winery

Email, for questions/orders: trees@aeppeltreow.com
Web page: www.aeppeltreow.com

Forms available: bare-root trees, 1-year

Small numbers of cider apples on M-7: Dabinett and Kingston Black

Small numbers of perry pears on OHxF-513: Butt, Gin, Blakeney Red, and Taynton Squash.

Big Horse Creek Farm

Email, for questions/orders: oldapple@bighorsecreekfarm.com
Web page: www.bighorsecreek.com

Forms available: custom bench grafts: order in spring, trees will be shipped in fall
Can ship to: All US states except Hawaii
Last date: Orders must be received by March 1 for grafting.

Cider apples on following rootstocks: M-7, MM-106, MM-111, Bud-9
See web site for more information.

Brown Snout
Brown's Apple
Bulmer's Norman
Chisel Jersey
Crimson King
Dabinett
Dunkerton Late Sweet
Dymock Red
Fillbarrel
Foxwhelp
Harry Masters Jersey
Michelin
Tom Putt
Tremlett's Bitter
Vilberie
Yarlington Mill

Cummins Nursery

Email, for questions/orders: jnc1@localnet.com
Web page: www.cumminsnursery.com

Forms available: bare-root trees
Can ship to: All US states except Alaska and California
Last shipping: May 1st

Cider apples on following rootstocks: M-7, G-30, MM-106, G-16, some M-26 and Bud-9
See web site for specific availability.

The following are available as of 20 January 2003.
Varieties marked with * are available in larger quantity (50-200 trees).

Bedan
*Binet Rouge
Brown Snout
Brown Thorn
*Brown's Apple
*Bulmers Norman
Champlain
Chisel Jersey
Claygate Pearmain
Coat Jersey
Court Royal
*Domaines
Dudley
*Ellis Bitter
Fenoulette de Ribours
*Fenoulette Gris
Foxwhelp
Geeveston Fanny
Gilpin
Grenadier
Harry Masters' Jersey
Kerry Irish Pippin
*Kingston Black
La Bret
Major
Marin Oufroy
Martha
Mettais
*Michelin
Muscadet de Bernay
Muscadet de Dieppe
Nehou
Nickajack
Northland
Old Non-Pareil
Pine Golden Pipppin
Pitmaston Pineapple
Porters Perfection
Redfield
*Reine des Pommes
Reinette Franche
Reinette Gris
Somerset Redstreak
Soulard Crab
*Stembridge Cluster
Stoke Red
Sweet Alford
Sweet Coppin
White Jersey

Perry pears sold out for 2003

Ford Farms

Email, for questions/orders: firm151@teleport.com
Web page: www.cyderworks.com

Forms available: bare-root trees, one-year
Will ship to: anywhere that makes sense

Cider apples all on M-9 rootstock

Dabinet
Golden Russet
Pitmaston Pineapple
Cortland
Pomme Gris
Brown Snout
Foxwhelp
Wickson

Trees of Antiquity

Email, for questions: neil@treesofantiquity.com
Web page: www.treesofantiquity.com

Forms available: bare-root trees: one-year whips and feathered maidens, certified organic
Can ship to:all of US, via UPS
Last shipping: end of April

Cider apples mainly on MM-111 and MM-106 rootstocks

Black twig
Belle De Boskoop
Karmjn de Sonnaville
Foxwhelp
Kingston Black
Muscat De Bernay
Nehou
Porters Perfection
Tremblitts Bitter
Yarlington Mill

Vintage Virginia Apples

Email, for questions: fruit@vintagevirginiaapples.com
Web page: www.vintagevirginiaapples.com

Forms available: bare-root trees as below; can also graft to order

Cider apples mainly on MM-111 rootstocks

Kingston Black
Tremlett's Bitter
Grinstone
Medaille d'Or
Wickson Crab
Norfolk Beefing
Yarlington Mill

Canada

Derek Bisset

Email, for questions: derek_bisset@shaw.ca

Forms available:trees as below, also some scionwood
Shipping: available on the property in Vancouver, BC area only. Not available to US customers
This is a one-time offering of about 3000 trees

Cider apples on rootstocks indicated below; some also available on M-9

Brown's Apple M-26
Dabinett MM-106
Bohnapfel M-26
Chisel Jersey M-26
Foxwhelp(?)dubious
Frequin Rouge M-26, MM-106
Harry Master's Jersey MM-106
Kermerrien M-26, MM-106
Kingston Black M-26
Locard Vert M-26
Marechal M-26, MM-106
Michelin MM-106
Muscadet de Dieppe M-26, MM-106
Orleans Reinette M-26, MM-106
Pomme GrisM-26,MM-106
Porter's Perfection M-26
Reine des Pommes M-26,MM-106
Stoke Red M-26,MM-106
Sweet Coppion M-26,MM-106
Tremlett's Bitter M-26
Vileberie M-26, MM-106
Yarlington Mill M-26, MM-106
mixed French varieties MM-106