Growing heirloom apples is one of the sweetest ways to preserve history in your and your kid’s memories. As the past 50 years or so has been overshadowed by commercial varieties that have taken over supermarkets, that now it is almost impossible to experience authentic apple flavor that was once relished by our forefathers.
Over the years, businessmen started growing apples that were able to hold up during its shipping process, could last for a long time and be completely disease-resistant. In the commercial market these qualities were extremely essential if businessmen wanted to make their profits.
Hence, the process of revamping the whole idea of how apple taste and looks completely brainwashed the minds of people and most consumers do not recognize apples that were once grown in our own country.
It is extremely difficult to pinpoint precisely a time when humans first cultivated apples, but the approximate idea is just about 800 BC. In any case, apples have always been a part of the human nature and have been a vital source of food supply for humans in those days. Did you know that there are more than 18,000 heirloom apple varieties that have almost reached extinction today?
Apples were first introduced to North America during the first colonists and it quickly became one of the most important sources of food for fermented vinegar and beverages. Early settlers made lavish orchards mostly of apple trees and they widely used in most of their dishes.
Thanks to the efforts of many garden hobbyist and Apple enthusiasts, you can find the same old heirloom apple varieties in your local nursery or online from where you can buy and plant them in your garden.
For those who do not know much about apples and their varieties, here are a few you must know:
- Rhode Island – this apple variety has been around during the 1600s and has been quite famous among people who used to love their apples during their leisure time. The Apple is green in color and is best used for sauces, pies, and cider.
- Hawkeye – the variety also known as ‘red delicious’ was discovered around 1870 by a farmer who found its seed in his orchard. These apple varieties developed great disease fighting oxidants for the human body such as vitamins C. and is comparatively more nutritious than other apples.
- Grimes Golden – this is originally found in West Virginia during the 1830s. The Apple is mainly used for making sauces and baking. They are sweeter in taste but have a much higher flavor while used in dishes.
- Baldwin- the Apple is great for pies and can be extremely delicious when eaten fresh. These apples were first introduced in Massachusetts during the 1700s. The Apple is completely red in color with stripes of green on it.
- English Beauty – the Apple is used for almost all purposes whether it may be for fresh eating or for cooking. It grows well in Southern states and is extremely delicious in its taste.
These are only a few varieties of heirloom apple trees, but if you are enthusiastic you surely will be able to find something that suits your taste buds.