November 2022 - 24

TREE FRUIT VARIETY SHOWCASE
Cummins Nursery offers Antietam Blush apple
The mid-south has a new apple variety,
bred and selected to prosper in the
challenging climate of western Maryland.
Chris Walsh, horticulturist at the
University of Maryland, has introduced
Antietam Blush to fill the need for a heattolerant
late-ripening dessert apple. This
was the first apple bred and introduced
from the University of Maryland.
" We have a very good climate for apple
production, but we also have a couple of
limitations because of our hot summers
and rainy weather, " Walsh said. " One day
the fruit is green, the next day they fall to
the ground. "
Maryland growers need varieties that
are heat tolerant.
Walsh got started in 1991 when
he realized that the main apple
breeding programs - University of
Minnesota, Washington State and
Cornell University - were all producing
selections for their own particular
climates. These are generally not wellsuited
to western Maryland.
The western Maryland climate and soils
are very favorable for vigorous growth.
Most apple varieties will put on 24 to 36
inches of new growth. Walsh imagined a
new, grower-friendly tree for the midANTIETAM
BLUSH
Atlantic that was small, sturdy, earlybearing
and resistant to fire blight.
About 5,000 open-pollinated seedlings
were produced from a planting that
contained Pink Lady, Wijik McIntosh
and other late varieties. In this firsttest
planting, Walsh selected for early
bearing and for compact growth. A series
of hailstorms led to severe fire blight
in the seedling rows. Trees with little
or no infection were saved, and others
eliminated. As a survivor, Antietam Blush
was selected as blight resistant.
In test planting at Keedeysville,
Antietam Blush on MM.111 have filled
their 9-foot by 12-foot spacing. Trees have
been precocious and productive.
Bob Black, owner of Cactotin
Mountain Orchard, has been growing
Antietam Blush for several years and
furnishing fruit for grower tasting. " I
think Antietam Blush will go a long way
for a lot of folks, " Black said. " It's an apple
that will do well in this region. "
Dad (Dr. James Cummins) and I (Steve
Cummins) started Cummins Nursery
in 1995, and we have always had a soft
spot for the apples that don't get the big
press. Our first test planting in New York
is only two years old - Antietam Blush
on Geneva 11, set four feet apart and
trained as tall spindles on 10-ft wires.
We first-fruited with five apples this
fall but unfortunately a U-picker got to
them before we did. I've yet to taste an
Antietam Blush grown in the North.
With a light spray program, we could
not observe for scab, cedar apple rust or
fire blight. The trees are best described as
handsome - nice strong trees with wellspaced
branches.
It's not often that a small nursery gets
to feature a new variety. It's also not
often that a state university releases its
first apple variety.
For spring 2024, Cummins Nursery
will have trees on G.11, G.935, G.214 and
G.890 for interested testers. FGN
24 | FruitGrowersNews.com
http://noursefarms.com http://www.summittreesales.com http://www.FruitGrowersNews.com
November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
