[quote="Viron":2wyzylt9]lynne; first, I grow "Winesap" apples. They're consistent, and often my most heavily loaded apple tree; and why I recommend them. (below) It's described as a "Stayman Winesap" …that distinction’s confused me for years. Maybe I should be researching Winesap vs. Stayman..? I also found that my Winesap tree is surrounded by pollen sterile, or "Triploid" apple varieties; a "Bramley's Seedling's" actually grafted to the Winesap tree (they both produce too well!); a "King," and a Gravenstein apple near by - triploids as well... I do have both Transparent, and Summer Red varieties grafted inside that Gravenstein. But I've many other varieties a bit further away that must do the job, cause like I said, that Winesap is consistently loaded, and around 20 years old.

I've looked around online... what a conflicting mess! See if any of this is relevant:

"Winesap Bloom Time: Mid season bloom time. A triploid, the pollen is sterile." -- It blooms midseason, but since it's a pollen sterile triploid, it will need two other sources of pollen; and those sources will have to be midseason bloomers too.

"Winesap (Stayman Double Red Winesap) Pollen-sterile, pollinated by Red or Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Liberty." -- Those pollinating trees are simply the trees offered by the nursery listing this information; a real problem in finding ‘other’ pollinators. But there's your "Fuji" - and your "Liberty!"

Here's a confusing statement: "Although some apple varieties, such as Lodi, Liberty, Empire, Winesap, Jonathan, Jonagold, Gala, Golden Delicious, Rome and Granny Smith may be listed as self-fruitful, they will set more fruit on an annual basis if they are cross-pollinated." Followed by: "Additionally, some apple varieties, such as Winesap, Stayman, Mutsu and Jonagold, produce sterile pollen and therefore cannot be used to pollinate other apple varieties." -- First, "Winesap" is included in a list of "self-fruitful" apples, and in the very next sentence it's described (along with "Stayman") as pollen sterile..?

One fun thing about doing research like this is stumbling onto a wonderful site, like the following: Dave Wilson Nursery @ http://www.davewilson.com/br40/br40_tre ... pples.html -- Excellent descriptions and photos! {just click on the small photos for larger ones} And the photo they have for their "Winesap (Stayman Double Red Winesap)" are the identical "Winesap" apples my tree produces. So they're "Stayman Winesaps," not just Winesaps..? Guess I've never really seen an 'original Winesap?'

I also searched bloom periods for your other apples and found: Liberty; early to mid season bloom. Enterprise; mid season bloom. Fuji; mid to late... So – if the Enterprise in not a triploid, it, along with Liberty & Fuji should pollinate your Winesap.

I couldn't find anything on the Macintosh, other than they may be calling it a "Red Macintosh"... which is a Triploid, thus pollen sterile, too...

Have we gotten anywhere..? Actually, I'm getting tired - spent the day digging out Himalayan blackberries. ...And if you've wondered about this late-night Saturday post -- we've a pre-teen 'sleep-over' taking place, with giggling girls fully awake -- and this machine is located as far away as I can get ... so thanks for giving me something worthwhile to do " title="Laughing" />[/quote:2wyzylt9]