I'm beginning to plan our backyard orchard and I've had trouble finding a source for the Hokotoi/Hokotui apple. Does anyone have a resource for this wonderful apple?
Not being a member, yet... is it possible to purchase custom grafted trees through the HOS? I've just discovered the Home Orchard Society and missed the fruit show that was held. So looking forward to getting to know the members.
Cyndi
Cyndi, I hadn't heard of that apple... and apparently neither had google: "Your search - Hokotoi apple - did not match any documents." But then I'm lagging behind on the latest varieties … with an orchard full of others.
HOS has what's called the Make-a-tree program, where you order cultivar (variety) and rootstock at our Fall show and those grafts are made prior to our Spring event where you pick them up. I graft at the Spring event, and had a grafting display set up this year next to our Make-a-tree order table at the Fall Show (the busiest spot at the event – thanks Dennis!) …But I don't know if it's still possible to order..?
I've helped 'make' these trees, but don't know which varieties will be available... though the order form asks for 'substitutes.' If you can procure and store some dormant scions this winter, bring them to the Spring event (or our grafting classes at CCC) where you can have grafted (or graft in class) one or several. We plan to limit the number of consecutive grafts at next year’s custom grafting, but you'd be fine with half a dozen. If you can't find the wood but chance it being there, do the same. Then you can watch the process and have an excellent selection of rootstock.
Our members are great! Some of the most intelligent, healthy and giving people I've met. ...And for some unknown reason - they're all nuts about fruit! Welcome!
Viron
I discovered this apple (Hokotui) at the Kiyokawa family orchards up in Hood River. It was the most delicious apple I ate so far this season. It's apparently a cross of Fuji & Mutsu (I think I got that right). The closest thing I've found on line is an apple called "HATSUAKI" which Hartmann Nursery has up in Washington has for sale.
The Kiyokawas have information on all their apples on their website http://www.mthoodfruit.com/
Maybe someone in HOS has an existing relationship with the Kiyokawas? I wouldn't even know the etiquette behind asking a professional orchardist for a cutting of one of his apples. Especially since this one appears to be so rare. Any hints?
Thank you for the info about grafting at the Spring Event. What classes are available at CCC?
Cyndi
Cyndi, I searched the cross "Fuji X Mutsu" and found some leads; as you'll notice below, this apple's also spelled "Hokuto." That's a ‘problem’ for English speakers, and is generally why excellent new apples originating from Japan's many (more than us!) experiment stations are 're-named' for the US market. I've watched (but didn't find) an alternative name mentioned, it could be going by another name around here.
I found this apple listed at the "Commins Nursery" in Geneva, NY; here's there entry:
"HOKUTO A Japanese cross of Fuji X Mutsu. Ripens about 2 weeks before Fuji. Large yellow fruit, often with pink stripes.†“Not budded for 2009" -- I'm not sure what the "not budded" indicates..?
I also found the follow description and link to the nursery below; it has no web page:
"Apple |Hokuto' is the offspring of |Mutsu' and |Fuji,' and has all flavor, sweetness and crisp texture you'd expect from such a fine pedigree. |Honeycrisp' is a red apple that keeps until February in refrigeration. Both are available from Rocky Meadow Orchard & Nursery."
Rocky Meadow Orchard and Nursery
5300 Schenley Place
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
812-537-8655
Fax: 812-537-8655
I visited "The Kiyokawas" site, impressive - and close! I once asked a local Orchardist growing the 'latest & greatest' patented variety for a scion. He said he'd signed a contract that excluded him from selling scion wood for commercial propagation, but since this was for a "home orchard" he said, 'go ahead' (and they took!). I'd assume the apple you're looking for is also under a plant patent; most run 17 years I believe. We're not allowed to trade patented cultivars at our scion exchange. A member actually walks the tables checking patent dates and (unfortunately) pulling anything not yet released to the public...
In a case like yours it may be best (if not simply legal) to purchase the tree from a nursery.
I'm awaiting the formal date (around late Feb. early March) of the HOS grafting classes; and assume they'll again be held at Clackamas Community College. We've had two beginners classes, about an hour and a half each; finishing up with one intermediate (toned down from "advanced") class. I've got to lead the last class; it deals with 'top-working' an established tree, as opposed to 'bench-grafting' rootstock. Just watch this site for the details 
Viron,
You are wonderful! Your searching gave me leads to work on and I've just sent off an email to the Midwest Fruit Explorers who has a least one member with a "Hokuto" apple tree. As a matter of fact, t his gentleman has 93 apple trees in his urban backyard!
Rocky Meadow Orchard & Nursery no longer exists as such, sounds like it may have been a huge loss, it is now owned by the Henry Fields company but they are only offering a very, very small variety of trees. Although, I'm not done investigating that particular situation.
I'm so appreciative of your efforts on behalf of my obession. I feel like I've caught some mysterious disease with this new found need to discover new/old wonderful apples.
Even now, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of new young trees - a Victoria Limbertwig (which is a weeping variety of apple), a Pumpkin Sweet, a Winter Sweet and a Claygate Pearmain.
I look forward to your getting the dates for the grafting classes. That is something I would definitely love to learn.
Cyndi
"I'm so appreciative of your efforts on behalf of my obsession. I feel like I've caught some mysterious disease with this new found need to discover new/old wonderful apples." -- That's great, and you're welcome! Actually, you've come to the right place, just as I had over 20 years ago... We're your kind of people! And once you get your orchard filled - you can continue the chain of information by doing the same for others.
"I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of new young trees - a Victoria Limbertwig (which is a weeping variety of apple), a Pumpkin Sweet, a Winter Sweet and a Claygate Pearmain." -- And I haven't heard of a one of them ... but they'll be in the Willamette Valley now! ...and some eventual scions for the exchange I hope! Keep us posted 
Hi Cyndi,
I think I saw that apple up at Kiyokawa Orchards myself, stopped past there a couple of times this fall - it's about 3 miles before I get to my dad's cabin! And I think I've seen mention other places in this forum that they donate cuttings to the HOS Scion Exchange; but as Viron points out patented varieties aren't supposed to be propagated without paying the royalty fee. But the Kiyokawa family are good people, you might at least send them an email and ask them about it - if you show up with an apple cutting at the Scion Exchange and want it grafted; don't think they've managed to imprint patent marks in the genes yet!
I think they have changed or renamed a few other of their varieties; probably by accident - I got some Starkcrimson pears there in Sept., but the only listing on them I could find on the web was them! Even Stark Nursery didn't have it; though they sell a pear which looked and sounded like it - but not that exact name. Very sweet pear, and colored like a Red Delicious apple!
Kiyokawa is also where I found my main supply of Hudson Golden Gem apples; only other place I knew that I could buy them was a local orchard with one small tree - I clean picked it; 7 apples! And I went wild in Kiyokawa's juice apple bins, most apples in them were better than the first run ones at an orchard down the road; got over 100 lbs of apples for $.19 / lb; then after I helped them take down a large canopy they rewarded me with about another 20 lbs of their good apples!! They were clean picking the U-Pick rows when I was there last weekend in October; and just putting them all into the juice bins without sorting out them at all - fine with me!
I'm shopping for apple varieties also, to start about 6 trees next spring - good luck with your quest!
Dave
Thanks Dave for your message and advice. I think I will go ahead and email them. I'm also waiting for a word from an orchard society in Illinois that may have the same apple with a slightly different name.
I'm going to have a yard full of baby apple trees this Spring!
Skipping happily about the room,
Cyndi
Yes, I'll have a garden full of young fruit tree grafts this coming spring too! Though in my case; it'll be in my mom's unused garden space, since I'm in an apt. and have NO yard! But wanted to get trees started growing for when my lady friend finds land near here (Corvallis, Oregon) to build a house and move to - she's looking for 10-20 acres, and wants a few apple trees since she's got 4 where she is now and kind of likes them! So I've been researching rootstocks & varieties to graft next spring; hoping that she'll have land before the trees are real big - been fun reading up on apples; then finally getting to taste a bunch of the ones I'd only read about; that you can't just buy in a store, like the Hudson's Golden Gem; which so far is my favorite apple:)
And already got to try a bit of grafting; budded several more varieties onto the 2 apple trees planted last spring to replace fallen trees in moms yard, if I'd known then what I know now probably wouldn't have been in so much of a rush to plant - might have picked differently than a Granny Smith! But it's going to get transformed; day after the HOS budding clinic added Hudson's Golden Gem; Jonagold; Ashmead's Kernal; & Braeburn to it to replace two branches each.
In some ways I'm lucky that I don't have land; I've got the early stages of apple collectors disease!
Dave
I have never tasted the Hokuto apple, but I see that Applesource (http://www.applesource.com/) sells the fruit. I am looking for apple varieties to plant next year, so I think I will try to taste this one.
Cummins Nursery posts a description of Hokuto on their "Antiques and Exotics" page, but it is not listed as being available for 2010 or 2011. If anybody does find a source for trees, please post here!
Lotus=
Try the spelling Starkrimson. It comes up on the web. I tried it at the AAFS. My kids and I thought it was excellent! I hope to find a scion at the scion exchange. I'm sure glad my kids are more excited about fruit than candy or video games. I predict that they will graft fruit trees some day.
John S
PDX OR
Cyndi:
If the scion is available, you may be able to order it through the Home Orchard Society. See this link:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3020
Also, unless it's patented, Nick Botner almost certainly has it. You could probably get scion wood from him, and get it grafted in the spring at the scion fair.
Search for Nick Botner on these forums. 
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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