Ralls Janet
Apple cultivar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ralls Janet is a cultivated variety or cultivar of apple also known by many other names.[1] It has been used extensively in modern apple breeding, and has several commercially important offspring,[1] notably the Fuji.[2]: 77 It was grown by Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, at his primary residence, Monticello.[3] It should not be confused with a largely red apple named Ralls found in New England and the Upper Midwestern United States.[4]: 147
- Kokko
- Neverfail
- Ralls Genet
- and others
Amherst County, Virginia, 1785| Malus domestica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Species | Malus domestica |
| Cultivar | Ralls Janet |
| Marketing names |
|
| Origin | Amherst County, Virginia, 1785 |
The origins of the Ralls Janet remains unclear. Its namesake is reportedly Edmond-Charles Genet, a French minister who gave cuttings to Jefferson, who then passed them on to Virginia nurseryman Caleb Ralls.[5] Another possibility is that Jefferson received this variety from a local nurseryman named Ralls, who lived across the James River from his summer home, Poplar Forest.[4]: 147 In 1871, Dr. William Howsley reported that Caleb Rawles [sic] introduced the variety in 1795 as the Genet Apple.[6]
The Ralls Janet is a medium variety with oblate geometry. It has greenish yellow skin, which is mottled and streaked with shades of red and pink. There may be some russetting near the stem.[4]: 147 It blooms comparatively late, making it known as the Neverfail in central Virginia.[4]: 147
The Ralls Janet has dense, crisp, and yellowish flesh, a tart-sweet flavor, and a sweet aroma when cut. It is suitable for dessert and for making apple pie, apple butter, and apple cider.[4]: 147
This variety is highly susceptible to blossom fireblight and somewhat vulnerable to apple scab and bitter rot. But it is highly resistant to collar rot.[4]: 147
