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Post by castanea on May 1, 2016 23:28:38 GMT -5
I bought a couple of these trees as bench grafts. The fruit is supposed to be very hard and have an interesting flavor. Has anyone grown it or eaten it?
Coconut Crunch originated in 1982 when Garfield Shults of Homesdale, Idaho crossed Northern Spy and Delicious.
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Post by rangardener on May 5, 2016 18:36:47 GMT -5
I have one I put on one of my old trees two years ago. Just checked a few minutes ago and I saw a cluster of fruitlets, so that's the first time it sets fruits. If they do not drop in summer, I hope to update later. Good to know its parent varieties. Note that the flavor is supposed to improve after storage (see below).
The descriptions from our local scion exchange 2014 on Coconut Crunch:
“ Yellow skin. Hard flesh with the texture of coconut flesh. Interesting, mild flavor improves after storage. Zones 3-6. originated in Homedale, Idaho. Shows good disease resistance.“
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Post by castanea on May 7, 2016 0:40:29 GMT -5
Good to know.
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Post by castanea on Jun 28, 2016 9:26:13 GMT -5
Oddly enough, these are being grown in Uganda. If you're on Facebook, check out this American nursery's project in Uganda: www.facebook.com/kuffelcreekapplenursery/photos/a.653022928103922.1073741827.650676391671909/1141545675918309/?type=3"Our friend Donald Jere ( www.facebook.com/donald.jere.9?fref=ts ) in Chipata, Zamba posted this photo of a Coconut Crunch apple he just harvested "off season" (more on this later). Coconut Crunch was bred by Garfield Shultz, in Idaho, USA, who bred apples in his back shamba as a hobbby. First of all, it doesn't taste a bit like coconut; in fact, it has old-fashioned classic apple flavor, very spicy with hints of cinnamon. The "coconut" part of the name has to do with the texture, solid and dense, like a hunk of coconut. The quality is excellent, and the flavor will compete against anything you'll find in the supermarket. It is a vigorous and reliable bearer, usually ripening late in the season. But as is sometimes the case, apple trees in warm climates have two blossoming seasons, bearing a large crop in the main season and a much smaller crop in the "off" season. Not bothered by heat or lack of cold weather, it is an excellent apple for planting all over East Africa, both high and low elevations." www.kuffelcreekapplenursery.com |
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Post by rangardener on Jun 28, 2016 16:06:48 GMT -5
That reminds me of … a few years ago when my friends down in southern California asked me about some “common” fruit trees, I kept emphasizing to them the chilling requirements for many fruit trees of temperate regions. (“Your place is not cold enough!!”) Back at that time, to my own amusement/amazement/embarrassment, as I came across the Kuffel Creek site and found out that several apples (http://kuffelcreek.com/favorites.htm) in my own orchard actually could do quite well in hot climates. I just had to congratulate them on all the varieties of fruit trees they can grow down there. Location, location, location …
:-)
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Post by Marches on Jul 8, 2016 3:59:39 GMT -5
That reminds me of … a few years ago when my friends down in southern California asked me about some “common” fruit trees, I kept emphasizing to them the chilling requirements for many fruit trees of temperate regions. (“Your place is not cold enough!!”) Back at that time, to my own amusement/amazement/embarrassment, as I came across the Kuffel Creek site and found out that several apples (http://kuffelcreek.com/favorites.htm) in my own orchard actually could do quite well in hot climates. I just had to congratulate them on all the varieties of fruit trees they can grow down there. Location, location, location … :-) Likewise Isabella grapes (a labrusca hybrid) have mutated in Hawaii and essentially have become evergreen and bear fruit throughout the year. Normally we'd look at tropical Vitis such as carribea for such traits. |
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Post by rangardener on Nov 16, 2016 16:02:27 GMT -5
 Most apples in my backyard were at least 3-4 weeks early this year. This Coconut Crunch was the last apple remaining on trees as of 11/07/2016. (Photo: 10/28/2016) I did not wrap it early enough so it was slightly damaged, and I tried it a week ago straight off the tree since I could not store it. It indeed felt dense, taste-wise it was on the sweet side, with the flavor reminding me of, well, banana (??). Although I am more biased toward apples with sharper and stronger tastes (my favorites: Ashmead's kernel, GoldRush, Stayman's Winesap, ...), this sample (N = 1) was very enjoyable. For myself I will not make a whole tree of this variety, but will add more of this to my other "Franken" trees. (The picture shows what it was like two years after grafting on an old tree in semi-shade.) It does not exactly fit the description of “Yellow skin” from the scion exchange, more of "red and yellow". But it does look a bit like the photo here: kuffelcreek.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/608/ |
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