Geneva Apple

The new Geneva apple originated from a 'Quinte'
x 'Julyred' cross made in 1964.Geneva Apple trees are of good vigor, neither too
vigorous nor too weak. They can be propagated on the full
range of size controlling rootstocks, dwarf to very vigorous.Geneva apple blooms early.'Geneva Early' is one of the very earliest ripening apples.
It is large, and has good eating quality, and is a very
marketable type of apple.
Its special feature is its very early ripening season, usually
about August 1 at Geneva, NY but sometimes as early as
July 13. It is one ofthe earliest ripening of all varieties and is
one of the most acceptable of all the very earliest kinds.
Like all early ripening apple varieties,Geneva apple ripens
unevenly and requires two or three pickings. This uneven
opening is an advantage to the home orchardist who
wishes to harvest a few ripe apples daily over a period of 2
weeks.But uneven ripening is a disadvantage to the comcommercial
grower for whom it is most profitable to harvest the
entire crop at one picking. Birds will sometimes peck into
very early ripening apples before they are ready to harvest.
Also, 'Geneva apple' fruits will sometimes drop from the tree
as they are ripening.
Fruit size is mostly 2 3/4 to 3 inches in diameter. Skin
color is 60-100 per cent red. Color pattern is mostly a solid
blush, but sometimes with some striping. Fruit shape is
round-oblate. The flesh is cream colored but overripe fruits
sometimes have a tinge of pink in the flesh.
Flesh texture is semi-firm to soft and careful handling
during harvesting and marketing is essential. Although
storage life at 31 F. is probably less than a week, very early
apples are usually marketed immediately after harvest and
not stored for long periods.
Flavor is subacid and aromatic. Eating quality is good to
excellent.
'Geneva apple' trees are of good vigor, neither too
vigorous nor too weak. They can be propagated on the full
range of size controlling rootstocks, dwarf to very vigorous.
POLLINATION
'Geneva apple blooms early along with 'Mclntosh'.
Presumably, it is diploid and pollen is viable and it is an
effective pollen source for other early blooming varieties. In
most years, it will also effectively cross-pollenize with
midseason bloomers such as 'Delicious'. 'Geneva Early'
generally should not be depended upon as a pollen source
for late bloomers, such as 'Golden Delicious1 and 'Northern
Spy'.
DISEASE AND