Today in the orchard
Pipsqueak (Frostbite x Chestnut Crab).
It rained off and on all day. The ducks loved it. The stream that runs adjacent to their house is flowing with gusto, and they were frolicking in it all day. The wet dogs, on the other hand, were less enthusiastic. They stood by the porch door and looked longingly at us. We tried to ignore them while we organized scionwood orders and got them ready for shipping.
One of the most exciting and rewarding things about growing rare—and sometimes weird—apples is that people actually learn about them and want to grow them. It’s hard to call these bizarre cultivars that we grow (and love) “popular”, but several have struck the fancy of more than a few growers. Take Pipsqueak. Pipsqueak is an excellent dessert (fresh eating) apple that we started from a Frostbite (aka MN 447) seed about twenty years ago. We only knew the one parent until we had it DNA profiled recently and discovered that the second parent is Chestnut Crab. Both apples are delicious, and both possess unusual genetic ancestry including atypical Malus (apple) species. That makes them very unlike your common Malus domestica. The Pipsqueak tree is vigorous and healthy, and a bite of the fruit will make you happy. Unfortunately it has two flaws for the commercial grower: the fruit size is small—only about 2”— and the skin is usually russeted. We love russet, but Hannaford and Shaws do not. Darn! Pipsqueak will never make it to the big time, but if you’re looking for a tasty apple treat—ripening in October in central Maine— try Pipsqueak!
