Heritage Apple Project

Heritage apple trees are an important part of the gardening landscape in the Haliburton Highlands. In 2022, we were pleased to partner with the University of Guelph to identify and inventory the heritage varieties throughout the county.  Through the Heritage Apple Project, we worked with local residents to increase knowledge about these historic trees, collected and submitted leaf samples to the university for DNA testing and varietal identification. We will now use this information to help local gardeners preserve the trees that they have and propagate new cultivars to ensure we can continue to enjoy these remarkable old trees for generations to come.

Update for Heritage Apple Project

The HCMG Heritage Apple Project, in cooperation with the University of Guelph, is entering its second year. Last year we were pleased with the number of local citizen scientists who took and preserved samples for DNA testing at the university. We were able to identify an impressive number of parent and grandparent varieties, including cultivars with exotic names like Lowland Raspberry, Westfield Seek no Further and Hubbardston Nonsuch. This year, the Haliburton County Master Gardeners has been selected to be one of only four groups in the province to continue in the program. The focus for 2023 will be on further identification of original cultivars and on small orchards, rather than individual trees. If anyone knows of a small abandoned or maintained orchard, please let us know, as the university would like to obtain permission from the
property owners to take samples for testing. Further information on this year’s activities will follow when available. We are really excited about the amount of interest that this project has generated around apples in Haliburton. This year another group is launching an Apple Blossom Tour. While the HCMG are not involved in this initiative, we applaud them for promoting apple trees in our area.

The first phase of the Haliburton County Heritage Apple project is complete!

Last spring and summer 13 local participants submitted 23 samples to the University of Guelph for DNA testing. All samples were correctly collected and in good condition for DNA testing. Well done citizen scientists!

Test results identified more than 20 probable or possible heritage varieties in parent and grandparent trees. The heritage apple committee is currently working on an interactive map that will show where these trees are located. We have also been in contact with the University of Guelph staff to see if their testing program will be offered in 2023. Once we have this information, we will decide how to move forward with the project.

We are planning a couple of events for this winter/spring:

• An information session for last year’s participants and anyone else who may be interested. At this session, we will unveil the interactive map and a rundown of the varieties that were identified last year along with plans for 2023.  Event details coming soon!
• Watch this page for updates and info session dates;
• Contact us at: appleproject@haliburtonmastergardener.ca

You can still become part the initiative to preserve and propagate heritage apple varieties in the Haliburton Highlands!