Honey Tree Orchard & ApiaryCedar Bluff, Virginia

From the Living Museum

Enigma

Origin
Uncertain — possibly Norkent (Morden, Manitoba, 1990), of which "Enigma" is a listed synonym, or an unnamed seedling
Era
20th century (appears in MN / Botner material)
Type / use
Dessert · Fresh (very early)
Grafted, planting April 2027

Portrait to be revealed

History & Stories

The name suggests distinctive character. Limited published information; a good candidate for personal observation and documentation.

Folklore & Name

Appears in collections (including Nick Botner material) as a very early, hardy, aromatic red apple, sometimes noted in Minnesota Zone 2 contexts. Name suggests mystery or unusual character. Limited published detail; personal observation valuable.

Digging into the History

Below my own notes, here is what the old fruit books and today’s collections record about this apple, kept apart from the stories people tell.

What we know

Pomiferous lists "Enigma" as a synonym of Norkent 1,2. Norkent came out of the Canadian government's research station at Morden, Manitoba, where C.R. Ure crossed Minnesota 90 with Rescue; it was released in 1990 2. It is a very hardy dessert apple with yellow skin, a red blush, and greenish, crisp flesh 2.

The competing accounts

  • Pomiferous apple database 1,2: "Enigma" is a synonym of Norkent, bred at Morden, Manitoba, and released in 1990.
  • Reports among collectors: a very early, hardy red apple circulating in Minnesota and Nick Botner material, possibly a chance seedling; we found no published source for it.

Most likely (our judgment, not a certainty): possibly Norkent, but unconfirmed. The synonym is the only published record of the name, and a cold-country background would fit; matching the fruit against Norkent descriptions would settle it.

What we think: stories & traditions

Is our Enigma this one? We can't be sure. "Enigma" could also be a nickname for an unknown seedling. If the scions came from Minnesota or prairie collectors, Norkent is a likely match, since it was bred for the cold 2. That is a guess; comparing fruit with Norkent descriptions would help settle it.

Sources

  1. Pomiferous, "Enigma." pomiferous.com/applebyname/enigma-id-7481
  2. Pomiferous, "Norkent." pomiferous.com/applebyname/norkent-id-4590

Curious about Enigma?

Email us at drgoss@honeytreeorchard.com.