BRAEBURN

Synonym: Southern Rose

Parentage: Chance seedling

Color: Reddish-orange to sometimes crimson over green/yellow

Harvest: September 28 to October 5

Fruit: A medium to larger sized oval to slightly conic and regular apple. The cavity is medium depth, open, with a medium to shorter stem. The basin medium in width and depth and somewhat saucer shaped and usually with slight furrowing. The calyx is medium to smaller, green, and usually open. The lenticels are small, tan-colored, and more numerous near the basin. At harvest fruits may have only 50 to 60% red color, but the yellow background is an attractive contrast. Prone to scarfskin that may, at times, be severe that detracts from the appearance. Fruit are highly susceptible to Ca disorders such as corking and bitter pit, the latter of which may appear on the tree when harvest is delayed. The fruit surface can become quite greasy when fruit are allowed to hang past maturity. The creamy-yellow flesh is very firm, fine textured, crisp, and juicy. The flavor is tart at the earliest harvest (S.I. = 3/4)but turns a pleasant sweet-tart at later stages (S.I. 6) of maturity. The best flavor is obtained in fruit after several months storage. Storage life is good to excellent. Braeburn is subject to watercore and susceptible to apple scab.  Low susceptibility to tarnished plant bug.  Moderately susceptible to plum curculio, tufted apple bud moth and redbanded leafroller.  Highly susceptible to codling moth and oriental fruit moth.

Tree: A weak growing, precocious tree that may "runt out" when cropped too early and heavily. The canopy is generally open and spreading, but may be more upright if not cropped. Blooms early and heavily, but may have poor set. Highly susceptible to fire blight and mite damage, susceptible to mildew and cedar apple rust, and moderately susceptible to scab.  Moderately susceptible to European red mite, Japanese beetle and spotted tentiform leafminer.  Highly susceptible to rosy apple aphid.

Market Potential: Fair: roadside stand and local fresh market