Cultivar 285: Redwell

Redwell is a late keeping apple. It is described as a fine red fruit that looks like an improved, more highly colored Wealthy.[S1] [S3] Prairie and Minnesota sources link it to open pollinated Scott's Winter. Daniels nursery promoted it as "The New Winter Wealthy" soon after the University of Minnesota gave it an official name.[S1] [S3]

Sources place its early history in Minnesota. A prairie directory says it was selected in 1923, links it with Excelsior in 1946, and notes that it was tested as Minn. #638.[S1] Daniels also identifies it as Minn. No. 638 and credits the University of Minnesota as the originator.[S3] Coutts called it a "good breeder," suggesting it was valued as both a fruit and breeding material.[S1]

The fruit is described as a beautiful red apple of uniform size, like a highly colored Wealthy but better in most respects.[S1] [S3] It is a late season apple. Daniels says it is usually harvested in mid October, while the prairie directory says it can be left on the tree until the end of September.[S1] [S3] Sources agree that it hangs well and stores for a long time, keeping into February or March.[S1] [S3]

Tree notes are brief but useful. Daniels describes Redwell as a regular bearer with evenly sized fruit.[S3] The supplied sources do not give direct disease notes. No explicit hardiness zone appears here. The cultivar was promoted for Minnesota and nearby northern areas, listed in a prairie Canadian apple directory, and offered by multiple South Dakota nurseries. This places it in the northern hardy apple context, even though the exact limit is not stated.[S1] [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: Edible Apples in Prairie Canada
• S2: Nursery Plants Available from South Dakota Nurseries
• S3: Daniels planting guide, 1950

This summary currently draws chiefly from Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Tested as Minn #638.”
— ^[1]

“Fruit resembles a highly selected colored Wealthy.”
— ^[1]

“Described as a "good breeder" by Coutts.”
— ^[1]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Redwell (Minn. No. 638) The New "Winter Wealthy"Daniels planting guide, 1950, p20
• Redwell (op Scott's Winter) Excelsior (1946) STEdible Apples in Prairie Canada, p59
• Redwell (op Scott's Winter) Excelsior (1946) STEdible Apples in Prairie Canada, p59
• Redwell (Minn. No. 638) The New "Winter Wealthy"Daniels planting guide, 1950, p20

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context