Malus domestica var. Plentiful
Origin: Alaska (via Michigan)
Improvement status: Breeding population
Seeds per packet: 5
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
We're thrilled to be offering these 'Plentiful' apple seeds, thanks to our friend Ken Asmus of Oikos Tree Crops in southwestern Michigan. Ken tried to retire a few years ago, but the plants apparently kept calling him back! He's still selling seeds and plants, but now he's only selling bulk amounts of seeds, pricing out the smaller customers who just want to try a packet-sized amount. So we're happy he's willing to have us buy a few things from him in bulk so we can offer them at a smaller size to all of you!
Here's what Ken has to say about his 'Plentiful' apple:
"Selected crabapple with exceptional hardiness, clean fruit free of disease and insect damage, with large one-inch-diameter red fruit. Juicy with a tart flavor. Very productive. From seed, it would be in the Dolgo class ofcrabapple and is a good seed source for clean foliage and immunity to all foliar diseases. The fruit is spotless as well.
'Plentiful' was selected from a batch of 'Kerr' apple seedlings from Alaska. Due to its large clean leaves which are free of disease and a nice yellow fall color, it was a tree that stood out in my beds of apple seedlings. The bright red fruit contrasts nicely with the yellow fall color. 'Plentiful' has the highest yield of any crabapple at my farm. The extremely clean fruit has no disease issues and can be used for excellent jelly and juice. Of all the crabs that I have found at my farm, this one is also the most ornamental in terms of its fruit display as the fruit does not break down quickly and stays a bright red color all the way into January. Normally large-fruiting crabs break down quick and soon turn brown. The branches bend to the ground with the heavy fruit load.
Seedlings from this apple provide a great way to continue the 'Kerr' strain because of its clean foliage and vigorous seedlings. Kerr itself provides a good starting point to develop apples that can survive in the -40 degree zones of the world [where celsius and fahrenheit meet!]. Seed grown apples could provide a whole new avenue of products for the apple industry. The flavors found in some of these small-fruited trees really are amazing and worth exploring, even if the fruits are juiced and processed in some way. The cider industry is changing the way an apple looks.
GERMINATION: Fall-plant outside 1/4 inch deep, 1 inch apart in a normal garden type soil that is cultivated. For the refrigerator method, put the seeds in a ziplock bag with lightly damp peat moss at 33-38 F for 60-120 days. Seeds will sprout a little in the fridge after 60-90 days. Plant those seeds as they sprout. After 90-120 put the bag at room temperature and the rest will quickly follow suit."
