This Russian heirloom was discovered in the early 1800s and offered by Gillet beginning in 1884. It is one of the earliest varieties to ripen in Nevada City, mid August thru September. It is a good variety for warmer climates. A beautiful medium-sized apple, with a thin, yellow skin, streaked with shades of red and covered with a bluish bloom. It is moderately juicy, with a tart flavor that makes it more attractive for cooking than fresh eating. It makes the first great apple juice of the season, and is especially good for dried apples, pies and applesauce. Of more than 100 apple varieties that they grow, Tim Bates and Karen Schmidt of the Apple Farm in Mendocino County consider this the best variety for their famous applesauce. Others call Red Astrachans the best for pies. It does not store well, pick ‘em and use within a few weeks. The tree is vigorous, self fertile, and an alternate year bearer. The tree likes most soils, moderate watering, good drainage and full sun. It is a beautiful, ornamental and very productive tree.

The 125+ year young grandmother tree grows in the town of Humbug, in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park on the San Juan Ridge of Nevada County, CA at 3,250’ elevation. Humbug is the site of one of the original and largest hydraulic gold mines and was a roaring, long-term, large mining town, abundant with wonderful heirloom fruits and nuts that we will be introducing over the next few years.