Lyman's Large Summer

type: Culinary, Dessert

synonyms: Large Yellow Summer, Lyman's Large Yellow Summer, Lyman's Large

identification: Large to very large. round flattened. The base colour is green maturing to pale yellow. large, white, haloed lenticels. Sometimes blushed copper on the sun-exposed face. The stem is short and stout, set in a shallow and narrow, russetted cavity.

characteristics: The flesh is yellowish, crisp, breaking. Juicy, sweet-tart and well-flavoured.

uses: Dessert and cooking. Rated as one of the best summer apples.

origins: According to William Kendrick in the 1844 edition of "The New American Orchardist" this apple was introduced by S. Lyman of Middlefield, Connecticut (U.S.A.). He listed it as the Large Yellow Summer. In the 1845 edition of "The Fruit and Fruit Trees of America" A.J. Downing listed it as Lyman's Large Summer, saying that it was brought to notice by S. Lyman of Manchester, Connecticut. There is also a claim that it originated with James Dougall in Amherstburg, Ontario (Canada). While it was highly praised as one of the finest summer apples for both fresh-eating and baking, it gradually fell from favour and was thought lost by the early 1900s. Fortunately with was rediscovered in 1941 by a New Hampshire collector who happened to received some scion wood from a tree located in Wilton, Maine, that was thought to be a Cole's Quince, a famous Maine apple rated highly by the pomologists of a century ago. But when it fruited, it was recognized to be a long lost Lyman's Large Summer. With that discovery, cultivar was once again made available from select nurseries specializing in heritage apples. There is no record of its parentage.

cultivation: Typical of tip-bearers, it has long, drooping branches and the fruit forms in clusters at the tips. Crops are poor until the tree is fully mature. Tolerates Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

cold storage: Keeps one month in cold storage.

vulnerabilities: Very prone to scab and blight.

harvest: Ready for harvest starting late in the third period.