The Putnam Apple

 

The Putnam Apple Tree, Springer Spaniel for scale, Palisade CO, April 2024 

It's been a bit since I've posted because we have been rather busy.  In September of last year we bought  2 acres in Palisade, CO and we are starting a Market Garden and building out a small guest house.  If you want to read about what we are doing, check out my wife's blog at https://www.palisadeposh.com/blog.  

I'm not sure if I've blogged about the Putnam Russet before but I've been wanting to and this is the perfect opportunity  The Putnam Russet's standard name is the Roxbury Russett.  According to Cummings Nursery, the Roxbury Russet is one of America's oldest apples.  It first grew on the farm Ebenezer Davis in Roxbury, MA around 1635.  It as brought to Marietta, OH and sold by Putnam Nursery under the names Putnam Russett and Marietta Russet. It is also called Shippers Russet, Belpre Russet, Boston Russet, Hewe's Russet, and Leather Coat. 

Again according to Cummings Nursery, this Late-season apple is large, green-gold, and covered with a fine russet that thickens toward the stem.  The flesh is hard, granular, and crunchy.  It is good for baking and cider making and has a sweet taste once it has been store for a bit.  I suspect the apple tree we had in our front yard in Marietta was a Putnam but I didn't realize it growing up. So, why am I talking about it now? Well we just received one from Cummings Nursery and planted it in our orchard.  

Fun little side not on our new property.  We moved in next to a Putnam.  Turns out her late husband and I were likely 8th or 9th cousins tracing back to New Salem(now Danvers), MA.

I hope to get back to blogging more regularly soon.  Lot of work to do here and I am still unpacking the genealogy documents.