Rhode Island Greening facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malus domestica 'Rhode Island Greening' |
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| Cultivar | 'Rhode Island Greening' |
| Origin | about 1650, Newport, Rhode Island, USA |
The Rhode Island Greening is a special kind of apple from America. It's even the official fruit of the state of Rhode Island! This apple is known for its bright green color and tart taste.
The Story of the Rhode Island Greening Apple
This apple first started growing around 1650. It was discovered near a place called Green's End in Middletown, Rhode Island. A man named Mr. Green first grew these apples. He ran a tavern and grew the apple trees from seeds.
Mr. Green shared parts of his apple tree with many visitors. These parts, called scions, are like small branches. People would use them for grafting, which means attaching them to another tree so they could grow new Rhode Island Greening trees. Because so many people took pieces, the very first tree eventually died.
People started calling these apples "Green's Inn" apples because of Mr. Green's tavern. They became very popular. By the 1800s, the Rhode Island Greening was one of the most common apples grown in New York! One of the oldest known trees was still growing in Foster, Rhode Island, at the start of the 1900s.
What Makes This Apple Special?
The Rhode Island Greening apple is known for being crisp, juicy, and quite tart. It tastes a bit like the 'Granny Smith' apple.
These apples are usually large and have a round shape, but they are a little flat on the ends. When they are first picked, their skin is a dark, waxy green. As they get fully ripe, the skin turns more of a greenish-yellow color.
You can usually pick these apples from September to October. They are also great for storing! They can stay fresh and tasty until February or even longer.
