Chenango Strawberry

type: Eating, Pie, Sauce

synonyms: Buckley, Chenango, Frank, Jackson (also refers to Jackson which is a mutation in the Jonathan lineage), Jackson's Apple, Sherwood's Favorite, Early Sugar Loaf, Smyrna, Strawberry, Strawberry Chenango

identification: Medium to large size and distinctly long conic. Lightly ribbed. The skin is smooth, with a background colour of yellowish-green washed with crimson flushes and stripes on the sun exposed face. The stem is short to medium long and stout, set in a deep and narrow cavity.

characteristics: The flesh is white, tender and somewhat firm. Juicy, sprightly and somewhat aromatic with hints of strawberry.

uses: An excellent fresh-eating apple and used for pies. Also favoured for making apple sauce.

origins: In all probability, the Chenango Strawberry arose in central New York State (U.S.A.) during the early 1800s, though there is no information on its parentage. Orchardist N. Collins of Smyrna, Chenango County, New York (U.S.A.) states in the 1860, Vol. II issue of "The Gardener's Monthly" that the apple originated in the surroundings of Smyrna. "The Chenango Strawberry was raised from a seed planted many years since by a colored man named Frank. There were originally three trees in the same orchard, but one of them is dead and the others have borne abundantly the present seasons. It was for a long time called the Frank apple. Subsequently it was named the Jackson Apple; and lastly, the Strawberry, to which I attached the name of the county to distinguish it from the early and late Strawberries of Western New York." In the 1866, Vol. 27 issue of "The Cultivator & Country Gentleman," Charles Downing states that this apple originated 50 or 60 years prior in the town of Lebanon, Madison County, New York (Smyrna and Lebanon are barely 10 miles apart in the heart of New York State).

cultivation: Moderately vigorous, medium large, upright spreading tree. Spur bearer. Starts to produce quite young and bears annually. Requires diligent thinning to control the growth and fruit load. Ripens over the course of several weeks, providing just-picked fruit on an extended basis, but making it unsuitable for commercial production. Tolerates hardiness Zones 4 to 9. It does have a tendency to growing bland and mealy under in unfavourable growing conditions.

cold storage: Keeps two months.

vulnerabilities: Susceptible to blight.

harvest: Ready for harvest when skin colour turns whitish. This typically occurs in the second period in the southern United States and it the middle of the fourth period in the cooler northern states.