I think it does fine; it is originally from NJ and Tom Burford thought it did well in Virginia.

I did not choose to grow that one because Warren Manhardt in his book "Apples of the 21st Century" left it out of his 50 best list because he felt some other apple was similar in taste but better in every category. Now you probably want to know what that other apple is; if you do let me know and I will look it up in my copy when I am home.

Scott

How does Warren Manhardt's palate become the compass for the rest of us to navigate the vast world of apple tastes? No one is capable of such arbitration except for themselves. Let's not go the way of the vinophiles.

For myself, I can't think of a single apple similar but superior to Tompkins King as it grows here. It bares fruit for a month and a half. Sweet and rich with just enough acid to make it interesting. In its season, I consider it one of the best although my favorite apples ripen later. How it tastes in your region, I don't know but in coastal northern California it is one of my sisters favorites. I orchard-keep in southeastern NY.

If you learn to graft you can experiment with many varieties and develope your own list of 50 best apples.

Everyone can make their own decisions, but with all of the apple varieties out there its impossible to grow them all so you need to listen seriously to people like Manhardt who have years and years of experience.

Now that I can look at my copy of Manhardt, he doesn't precisely say some other variety is similar; he says Jonagold is better and Melrose is as good in taste. He says he has had problems getting King to pollinate well, has problems with water core, greasy skin, and bitter pit. Warren doesn't like Golden Russett either (Ashmeads Kernel and Roxbury Russet are preferred in his mind), but I like it enough that I am growing it. I never had a King that impressed me enough but maybe I missed the good ones. I was also not a Fuji fan until a couple weeks ago when I got my first home-grown Fujis. They have a much more intense honeysweet flavor than any store or local orchard Fuji I have found, quite delicious all in all.

Scott

I agree that it's helpful to listen to the opinions of others with more experience but the folks growing apples in your region should carry the most weight. This year I discovered why growers in the mid-west don't like Jonagold when after an exceptionally sunny growing season this usually reliable variety was huge and practically tasteless. It never reminded me much of King, however, which resembles a sweeter version of Baldwin.

Heirloom varieties tend to be more regionally varied than modern varieties out of breeding programs which are tested over a wide area before they are released. As you discovered, however, even globe trotters like Fuji are greatly affected by thier regional climate and like you, I prefer Fuji as it grows here. I'm in my 50's and find my tastes have shifted to a preference for tarter more "complex" apples however (complex sounds so elitist!).

As far as Golden Russett being inferior to the varieties you mention that opinion is far from unanimous amongst the apple fanatics that I communicate with. No matter how much experience growers and tasters have, as a group they won't agree on anything about apple taste except maybe that Red Delicous sucks- at least the redder strains.

It isn't as hard as you think to try hundreds of different kinds of apples. You should google NAFEX and consider joining. There are probably some members close to you that are growing a wide range of varieties. We fruit nuts are delighted to share our obsession so you won't have any trouble setting up a taste tour. You can also contact you cooperative extension and find out about smaller local commercial growers who grow unusual varieties.

Harvestman you are preaching to the choir, I'm growing 150+ apple varieties in my backyard and am a NAFEX member. I haven't found too many NAFEX members in my area and I end up learning more from this forum than NAFEX, but people there really know their stuff and it is well worth the minimal dues.

I also like the more flavorful apples generally and I would be interesed in which ones you liked best. If you click on my name you will see what I am growing. I don't have results on most of my varieties yet, but have found plenty of promising ones.

Re: Fuji, even the locally-grown ones I have tried are not as good as the ones I grew myself. I did a side-by-side comparison a few days ago. I use minimal fertilizer and maybe that helps the flavor.

Scott

Yeh, I was going to say, "You're new here, aren't you Harvestman?"

"I never had a King that impressed me enough but maybe I missed the good ones." No, you didn't.
"It bares fruit for a month and a half. Sweet and rich with just enough acid to make it interesting. In its season, I consider it one of the best although my favorite apples ripen later." See, that exactly describes my experience with Jonagold and not King.
For me King of Tompkins County is a decidedly mediocre apple in all aspects. That is not to say it is a bad apple, but that it doesn't excel in any one area. If you had one apple tree it would be a good one to consider.

Scott, how is your French collection, coming along?

And taste depends greatly on our micro climate, soils,and palates. Also growing, harvesting, and storing habits.

Anymore, I don't want a Fuji that isn't watercored.

Right now I am not eating anything but Pink Lady. Well, ok, I had a Northern Spy the other night that was delectable. And I have a few COP left, but they sure didn't store for me this year. Worse than usual. Picked them too late.

Here's the thing, when I discuss the quality of an apple it's not just about my experience. I manage over a hundred orchards for other people who are interested in special apples. I'm around apple trees every working day of my life and one persons opinion is only that. I watch what happens to tons of fruit and I'm interested in seeing as much of it as possible put to good use.

Jonagold is not the same season as King here- it starts to ripen almost a month later so I put it in the class of a winter apple. Jonagold is very grower friendly and bares every year when thinned adequately. It doesn't tend to keep particularly well most years, it's just not hard enough. Most seasons it has a taste that most people like a lot, myself included, even though it lacks the complexity sought by most apple snobs. The apples I'm harvesting in its season need to be great keepers to merit a lot of room in my orchard. These are the apples I'll be eating all winter and into spring so they have to be hard, I don't have CO2 storage or even enough room in my apple refridgerator.

I like apples that stay delicious after a couple months in the root-cellar. Goldrush fill this bill as do some of the russetts and for a sweet, obviously so does Fuji, though your favorites with water-core pay for their extra sweetness by storing poorly.

If you like Pink Lady our tastes may not be very different. Unfortunately, I'm told it can't ripen properly in my area so this is one apple I love that I only eat in late spring when my apples have gone soft.