Building a Sustainable Nursery
On Apples: Native Varieties, Personal Anecdotes and Delicious Recipes
Apples are arguably the most iconic fruit in the world. But how did the humble apple we know today come to be? The history behind this delicious fruit is fascinating, and it all begins with a complex mix of species within the Malus genus.
“The number of species in the genus Malus is uncertain and still under controversy. Robinson et al. (2001) explained that the number of species in genus Malus depends upon the rank given to several taxa, species being subspecies and putative hybrids, and the nomenclature of the taxa is complex.
Harris et al. (2002) pointed out about 55 species (between 8 and 79 have been recognized) according to the classification of Phipps et al. (1990). Zhou (1999) classified 30–35 species. Only 17 are recorded in the USDA, NRCS (2006) Plants Database (www.plants.usda.gov) (Table 2) (Fig. 1).” - Researchgate
^ Read the rest of the article linked here.
Regardless of the exact count, one thing is clear: apples as we know them are the result of a hybridization event that likely took place long ago—combining two or more species into the Malus domestica we enjoy today.
For those interested in learning more about the origins of apples, I highly recommend the book The Story of the Apple by D.J. Mabberley and Barrie E. Juniper. It offers a deep dive into the apple's fascinating evolution. You can find it here.
Plant Profile & Native Range
3 Native Crabapples You Need For Pollinators and Wildlife!
In North America, we do have a few native apple species in the United States. One such example is the Southern Crab Apple (Malus angustifolia).
Malus Angustifolia
Malus Coronaria
Malus Ioensis
While these native apples are fascinating, you’ll quickly see why they’re not commonly used for food, except in products like jams and jellies.
Although I’ve never personally tried them, reports suggest that they are generally less sweet, less fleshy, and much smaller than the apples we’re accustomed to finding at the grocery store, with the largest being M. Coronaria ranging from 1”-1.5” in diameter.
However, despite their limited culinary appeal, they still play an important role in the ecosystem.
Interestingly, I believe there’s real value in integrating some of these native species into current apple breeding programs. Natural hybridization is a significant factor in the evolution of many plant species, and apples are no exception.
Research shows that between 30% and 70% of all flowering plants have undergone hybridization events throughout their evolutionary history, making it a natural and beneficial process for plant diversity and resilience, especially with the way things are headed.
Incorporating these native species into homescale breeding projects similar to the skillcult youtube channel, could lead to something interesting and maybe even apples that are better suited for our future as a species.
Is it even possible to enhance the flavor, size or nutritional profile of the fruit? Could we find interesting new traits and qualities along the way, while working to maintain a lot of the traits that make the species so desirable in the first place? Who knows, but I’m going to try.
Storytime
On a more personal note, my journey into the world of fruit and nut trees began in 2017 when my dad initially began growing and maintaining a heritage fruit orchard on our property in Kentucky. The orchard was primarily designed for personal use and to provide food for wildlife, but it also gave me a whole new appreciation for the diversity of apples and other fruit species.
My dad's orchard includes over 30 different varieties of apples, with ripening windows stretching as early as July all the way to November. Some of our more unique varieties include Hauer Pippin, Wickson crab, and Belle de Boskoop apples, and more modern favorites like Honeycrisp and Enterprise.
This project has been such a blessing in my life. It was my dad's passion for preserving old apple varieties and his love for growing unique fruit trees that sparked my own interest in horticulture.
Our orchard has not only provided us with delicious apples but has also given us a deep connection to the land and the history of fruit growing in our region.
Propagation Methods & Notes
Currently, I'm growing all of my apple trees from seed. If you’ve never had the experience of receiving an "ugly" graft, consider yourself lucky!
Over the past two seasons, I’ve been honing my grafting skills, and I’m happy to report that last year was a significant improvement over the first. With continued practice, I’m hopeful that this season will bring even more successful grafts and I will be able to grow grafted trees for sale.
For now, however, I’m primarily focused on collecting seeds from apples that have grown locally—either on our property in northeastern Kentucky or from an orchard in central Kentucky. This gives me a good variety of genetics to work with, which is especially important for my passion for fruit breeding.
It’s worth noting that if you’re not particularly interested in apple breeding, you should be aware that these seed-grown trees will likely develop into full-sized trees (20’+). While they could serve as rootstock or be planted for wildlife purposes, apple trees grown from seed can exhibit a lot of diversity in their characteristics.
Since I only know 50% of the genetics in the seeds I collect, it’s impossible to predict exactly how each tree will perform in terms of fruit quality, disease resistance, or size. If you're just looking for a reliable apple tree, I’d recommend considering other propagation methods, like grafting, to ensure you get the desired traits you’re looking for.
But for those who are curious and want to explore the diversity that comes with growing apples from seed, it’s a fun and rewarding process that opens up a whole new world of possibilities in apple flavor and cultivation.
Economics
The economics of apples in our region is quite fascinating, though admittedly, it can be a bit challenging for growers. Ive heard this area referred to as the "final frontier" for apples, and for good reason.
Growing marketable organic apples for fresh sale here is notoriously difficult due to our hot, humid summers and the unique pest pressures we face. Pests from both northern and southern climates collide right over us, creating an environment where it’s tough to produce apples that meet the quality standards for fresh market consumption (without loads of inputs).
However, despite these challenges, there are numerous opportunities for value-added products that can be made from apples, even when they don’t look perfect. Apples that have cosmetic diseases like sooty blotch, flyspeck, or apple scab may not win any beauty contests, but they are still perfectly edible. In fact, some research even suggests that these “ugly” apples may be higher in nutritional content!
These cosmetic imperfections do not affect the fruit’s taste or its ability to be processed into a variety of products. Growers interested in producing organic value-added products should not be overly concerned with these imperfections.
There are many delicious and useful products that can be made from apples that don’t meet the fresh market standards:
Apple juice
Apple cider
Applesauce
Apple pie filling
Fried apples
Dehydrated apples
Essentially, anything other than fresh eating apples can be made from these “ugly” fruits. This opens up a world of possibilities for growers, especially those focused on organic practices.
Now, rather than dwelling on the economics of growing fresh-eating apples, let's take a look at the potential of no-spray, “ugly” apples.
If you’ve read last week’s newsletter on oaks, you’ll recall that Im pretty intrigued by the use of tree crops as a source of supplemental feed for livestock. Apples can also be used in a similar way.
Whether you’re growing apples yourself or trading with a friend who has an orchard, apples can be a great supplement to livestock diets. Windfall apples—those that have fallen from the tree—are often going to waste and can be a valuable resource for feeding animals, which is a method I personally prefer when it comes to tree crops as supplemental feed.
For a broader perspective, the apple industry in the U.S. is still thriving. According to the US Apple Association (usapple.org), fresh apples make up 67% of apples sold in the country. The remaining 33% of the market, still worth around $361.6 million as of the 2022 US Apple Industry Outlook, is dedicated to value-added products. This shows that there’s a significant market for apple-based products beyond fresh eating, offering plenty of room for innovation and business opportunities in the value-added sector.
So, while growing fresh apples for sale may be a tough challenge in my region, there are still plenty of avenues to explore with apples that don't meet the fresh market standard.
Whether you’ve got plans to start a cidery, can up some applesauce, dry some apple rings or feed your animals, apples provide great value and help support local economies.
Delicious Recipes to Try
I’m feeling both overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the wonderful response to last week’s newsletter! Because of all the positive feedback, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with some amazing new people.
One of them, Robin from Wildlands, even shared a recipe for this week’s edition! You’ll definitely want to try her amazing vegan apple pie—it's a perfect way to enjoy apples while keeping things plant-based and delicious. Trust me, it’s a must-try for any apple lover looking for a tasty and healthy dessert!
Israeli Couscous & Apple Salad (vegan friendly)
Crop Profile Directory
If you’re enjoying this newsletter and want to dive deeper into the plants I will be growing and how to incorporate them, you’re in luck! Below is a directory of all our past crop profiles. Feel free to browse and explore—happy reading! 👋
Community Engagement
As I continue to develop the Backyard Berry nursery and newsletter, I hope to get your input on topics and sections you would like to see in future newsletters.
For instance, I added a discussion thread in the chat to discuss the series coming up after this one finishes. Cast your votes in the comments!
👍🏼 I like the chat feature
👎🏼 Nah I like voting in the comments better
Thank you for joining me on this journey of building a sustainable nursery from the ground up. Knowing that I have a list of over 300 people subscribed to hear from me weekly is a little daunting, but it inspires me to keep working.
I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions! I’ll be in the inbox again next week! 👍🏼
Much love
Many blessings
Travis
Thank you, Travis, for including me in your amazing apple article! Please make this really simple apple pie that makes a great breakfast, snack and a healthy dessert, too! It's so easy to make- enjoy creating nourishment with a child. I made the pie with my mom, as it is the vegan version of her traditional family recipe.
As a nature nomad, I live in 3 ecosystems, one of which is my hometown, not too far from you, Travis. There's an apple orchard that has been farmed since the 1800's. He sells his apples to the local co-op and at farmer's markets because some of his apples are considered "ugly" by big grocers. His farm cannot provide huge yields of "acceptable and appealing" (pardon the pun) although they are organic and have deep roots in history.
I write about #shoplocal in many of my essays, and appreciate you are incorporating that important message, too. Great job, Travis, and thanks for supporting Wildlands!
So crazy that you made such a wonderful and thorough post about apples. Timing is everything in life. ;)
The book by Michael Pollan I recommended a couple of days ago "the Botany of Desire", starts with this premise. A few select plants have created something so valuable to humans, we have spread them throughout the world. In essence, they have used us, as opposed to us using them. Apple is one of his four examples. There are over 15,000 apple varieties on this rock.
Young man, you're amazing and that is an amazingly informative article. Thank you so so much!!!