An exceedingly rare and beautiful russet for the root cellar. Medium-large roundish-blocky-truncate fruit covered with a rich orange-opaque russet, sometimes accentuated with faint red radiating stripes. Tart dry yellowish flesh, should make superior cider.
John Winn, one of the first white settlers of Sweden, Maine, is thought to have grown this apple from seed he brought over from Massachusetts. Maine Farmer reported in April 1854 that “Win Russet [sic] … is a native and good apple, but requires a little more trial to establish the whole character of it.” Now on trial on John’s farm in Palermo and the Maine Heritage Orchard in Unity. Our scionwood comes from an ancient tree on the long-abandoned Winn farm at the base of Winn Hill in Sweden. Rediscovered with the help of Tara and Nat Peirce and Greg Marston.
Keeps until May. Uncertain bloom time. Zone 4 or maybe 3.
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