Finding a good fruit tree nursery

Good morning,
I'd like to plant a new apple tree. I have one that has wonderful eating apples (I'm told it's a Winesap) but they seem to fall apart during cooking. The other apple tree has yellow apples, that hasn't done well for us, but may need proper pruning, and time. I lost a very old crabapple over the summer, and would like to replace it with either another crabapple, or a dwarf veriety of "cooking" apple. I'd like to use the Garden Watchdog, but for that, I need names. Or, a way to search it for "fruit tree suppliers" or something. Maybe I'm just unable to understand how it works. Any thoughts?

Margo

A couple of North Georgia outfits that are decent. http://www.johnsonnursery.com/FRUIT%20PAGES/APPLES.htm Ison's is best known for Muscadines and blueberries But does other fruits including apples suitable for North Georgia and Upstate South Carolina http://www.isons.com/apples.htm

There are a couple nurseries nearish to you that I shop at. One is lichtenfelt and the other is underwood. Both are in the greenville area. Unless you are set on ordering online I would go and check them out. I got an email from underwood last week that they just got a apple shipment in. :-)

I am one of many who swear by Four Winds http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/

For really novel apples you might try Greenmantle http://www.greenmantlenursery.com/2008revision/fruit2008/index2008f.htm

I've not ordered from them; but I have learned much at their site. And I find it fun to contemplate apples that are quite a bit different from those I might find in a grocery store.

I have had good luck with Raintree nursery at http://www.raintreenursery.com . They have a lot of interesting varieties. They are located near Seattle. Never lost a shipment or a plant from them. They also have apple trees with several varieties grafted on the same trunk. I have trained such a tree as an espalier, thinking it would be easier to harvest the apple, and I am sorry to say that the deer love to have the fruit at their height!:)

I visited the Raintree orchards in Washington last week. Deer never seem to bother their apples. It might have something to do with 8 ft electrified fence that surrounds the trees. :-)

I have purchased their trees and they do a fine job.

Julia Child used to recommend Golden Delicious for a cooking apple because it keeps it's shape after being cooked. It does, but because it is a sweet apple you need to add some lemon juice to give the pie that sweet sour flavor. Where I live Northern Spy is considered a good cooking apple and it stores fairly well, even great eating fresh out of hand. My favorite apple by far is Mutsu. It's a cross between Golden Delicious and a Japanese apple called Indo. They're huge so it doesn't take many to make a pie. Because it is sweet and spicey it makes a pie with a complex flavor. I still put a splash of lemon juice in to up the sour. This is just my opinion. Take time to do your research because you'll be living with your choice for a while. Best of luck.

I forgot to add that both Northern Spy and Mutsu keep their shape after being cooked.

Margo, did you get your apple trees yet, or are you planning for the Spring?
If you are amenable to mail order, you might consider either
Cummins Nursery in NY (http://www.cumminsnursery.com/) or
Trees of Antiquity in CA (http://treesofantiquity.com/).
I've had great experiences with both, and both have great selection.

I can vouch for trees of antiquity, I buy from them often.

Mary,
Thanks for the tip on Trees of Antiquity. Comments about them at the Garden Watchdog are very favorable, their selection of apple trees is very interesting, and their website is very informative. I ordered from them and am now hoping to situate and start my tiny orchard well.