Consulting with local historian and expert apple grower, Clyde Jenkins of Stanley, Virginia, we have installed an heirloom fruit orchard with 35 varieties at the White House Farm.
The bees will be happy to find the Gravenstein, Astrachan, Carter’s Blue and several other apple varieties which originated in Europe and which became a staple of most farmsteads in the Shenandoah Valley.
We also planted several domestic varieties such as the Grimes Golden, Black Twig, York and a favorite of Thomas Jefferson’s, the Spitz (or Esopus Spitzenburg). Along with the apples, we also planted cherries, plum, pear and peach trees.
We are very excited to continue the heritage of growing these varieties in the Valley and look forward to their bearing abundant fruit. Below is a list of the varieties we planted.
Please check back as we will be providing updates on how well they are doing at the White House Farm:
Apple Varieties
- Albemarle Pippin
- Ashmead’s Kernel
- Astrachan
- Ben Davis
- Black Twig
- Carters Blue
- Esopus Spitzenburg
- Golden Delicious
- Golden Rienette
- Gravenstein
- Grimes Golden
- Lady
- Lodi
- Lord Hindlip
- Old English Milam
- Smokehouse
- Summer Rambo
- Winesap
- Wolf River
- Uster Apfel
- Virginia Beauty
- York
There are many great websites and books pertaining to antique apples. Along with information provided by Mr. Jenkins, here are a few which were consulted for the information posted on the above varieties:
http://www.applejournal.com/useall03.htm
http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/descriptions1.htm
http://ebl.uga.edu/activities/orchard/
http://www.producepete.com/shows/apples.html
http://vintage-virginia-apples.myshopify.com/collections/apple-trees
http://www.centuryfarmorchards.com/descripts/osapage1.html
http://www.wagonwheelorchard.com/produce/frame.aspx?f=Apples
Header Photo Credit: Chris Anderson. Mr. Clyde Jenkins and helper install one of the 35 heirloom fruit trees at the White House property, March, 2011. All rights reserved.