AKApples

AKApples A small backyard home apple orchard in Wasilla, Alaska. Growing apples in Alaska for 25 years. By appointment only.

Apple breeding, grafting and selling apple trees, free seeds to encourage others to grow apples from seed to produce new Alaskan apples.

09/25/2026

Trailman x Lake Otis Red dropped yesterday and produced 7 seeds. Lake Otis Red photos are from a few years ago.

Another drop found yesterday, one of my crosses Trailman x Lake Otis Red. Only one apple took pollen and grew. Lake Otis...
09/25/2026

Another drop found yesterday, one of my crosses Trailman x Lake Otis Red. Only one apple took pollen and grew. Lake Otis Red (tentative name) is a seedling found growing in Anchorage believed to be a cross of Dolgo x Almata. It produces an apple that’s pretty tart but sweetens a bit as the flesh turns more red.

It sounded like an interesting cross to make. It could produce a Trailman like apple with more red flesh, or could make it too tart to eat which then would still be good for sauce or cider. Time will tell.

09/22/2026

Beet red Rescue apples are purposefully let to overripe so seeds mature. These are one of my new crosses, Rescue x Pinker Lady.

When Rescue apples are this red they are past their prime and overripe. Why would they be left on the tree? I’m glad you...
09/22/2026

When Rescue apples are this red they are past their prime and overripe. Why would they be left on the tree? I’m glad you asked!

This little bunch of apples I pollinated with Pinker Lady pollen so I know both seed and pollen parents. I want to make sure the seeds have matured and turned brown and the way to do this is by letting the apples become overripe. There is no do over if I harvest them too early and the seeds aren’t ripe. A whole season lost if that ends up happening.

09/21/2026

After digging up some older trees that were struggling heavily, a few new ones are being tried (with better rootstock): Cherry Crush, Norlove, Red Sparkle, Washingtin Strawberry, Vermonter, Summer Red.

While a number of older trees struggled heavily from the past harsh winter, I decided to dig many up (not completely dea...
09/21/2026

While a number of older trees struggled heavily from the past harsh winter, I decided to dig many up (not completely dead but pretty lifeless) and try some new ones. While there are still more to do next year, here are a few late season plantings (descriptions under photos).

A reminder about the annual apple tasting event at Mid Valley Garden and Greenhouse next Saturday afternoon. If you are ...
09/20/2026

A reminder about the annual apple tasting event at Mid Valley Garden and Greenhouse next Saturday afternoon. If you are in south central Alaska this is a great event to attend to see what apples grow well here. Want to plant apple trees but not sure which ones? Sample many locally grown apples which might help you decide which ones you like. Lots of knowledge and people to talk to at this event.

09/19/2026

Some of this year’s apple seedlings hardening off well and dropping leaves. Encouraging signs for Alaska.

A few of this year’s seedlings hardening off well for winter. One of the things I look for in seedlings is do the leaves...
09/19/2026

A few of this year’s seedlings hardening off well for winter. One of the things I look for in seedlings is do the leaves turn color and start to drop off early in fall. That’s a good sign that the trees prepare for winter on time and are seedlings to keep an eye on.

If the leaves stay on the trees and don’t come off easily they may be a later variety and won’t harden off in time, good chance they may not work well here. If these six seedlings come through the winter fine they’ll be grafted to rootstock in late winter.

Descriptions under the photos.

Seed collecting continues. While currently processing a lot of apples, I’m pulling out as many seeds as possible, disin...
09/19/2026

Seed collecting continues. While currently processing a lot of apples, I’m pulling out as many seeds as possible, disinfecting, drying, labeling and storing in the refrigerator. These are from the past couple days. Rescue and Norland are known, some were from unknown apples but presumably Parkland. Hopefully many of these will be sent out later this year to those willing to plant them.

Address

Wasilla, AK
99654

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AKApples posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category