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Fruit & Orchards

I just ate my last 2 Arkansas Black

14 years ago

They were definitely not anything you'd pick up at the store unless you were planning on throwing them at the manager. I had been lax at keeping water in my crisper bin the last few months.

But they tasted pretty good. More like a McIntosh than the Delicious they were like the last time I had some. This time they had some tart back in them.

The texture was right where I like it (like a McIntosh).

They were stored from early October to the middle of June. Did I win?

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Comments (5)

chuck60
14 years ago
I've got some three year old apples in my pantry that look as good as the day I put them there. They're dried and in vacuum bags....I think they were Jonathans. I bet I couldn't keep a fresh apple for a week! I haven't even had very good luck storing sweet potatoes and winter squash. You must really have the conditions worked out.

Chuck
myk1
Original Author
14 years ago
I have a fridge with a couple of good crisper drawers.
It was easy keeping up on adding water when I had a bin full.

In my previous fridge I was lucky to get an Arkansas Black to last a month.
Arkansas Black would keep a week on the counter if it was in good shape. It wouldn't even be edible unless it was kept a week on the counter.
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chuck60
14 years ago
Good for future reference....I planted one in May. It seems to be doing OK. I may eventually get enough apples to have to worry about keeping them, but most of my 15 or so trees are still just one, two or three years old. I have a few more to add before I'm done. I hope to make cider at some time in the future, so some of my varieties were selected for that purpose. As I recall, Arkansas Black is supposed to be OK for that, but I actually planted it because my wife told me to. I am well trained, I am.

Chuck
myk1
Original Author
14 years ago
I think it greatly depends one what type you got. Some people on this forum have nothing good to say about them. Mine is from Stark.

Everyone that's had it loves my Arkansas Black only cider.
I tried it mixed with some store bought Jonathans and wasn't impressed.
Mixed with not many Newtown Pippin wasn't bad.
This year I should get enough McIntosh and Cortland to mix.
alan haigh
14 years ago
I think Ark Black may be the type of apple that wins greater general approval after substantial storage. It doesn't take a functioning crisper to store an apple like AB. I store my apples in a well house that is carved out of a hill. Temps fluctuate much more than in a proper root celler but the good storage apples last for months. Pink Lady and Goldrush are still good into spring.

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