This year, my Norkent is going to produce a few apples for the first time. I'm looking forward to trying them!

Although we like the Carroll very much, we like Westland better for sauce. I don't have Collet or Lee 17 to compare to.

By the way, Carroll has never been very productive for me here. I might get a moderate crop one year, and then not much for several years. Has anyone else had better luck with that variety?

We're not into sauce, for pies we like Collet best, self thinning tree and annual. Carroll for me is pretty well annual also but sometimes not overly loaded which I don't mind....the Sept. Ruby is NOT self thinning, has one year tons and the next nothing or little which I don't like, don't have time thinning.

Carroll from yesterday...very large apple.

Does the Collet hold its shape when baked in a pie? I might have to try that one ... my wife would like a better pie apple than anything I'm growing right now. I used to see Collet sold in my area, but haven't for a long time.

As far as the September Ruby goes, I like the apple, but it took me a long time to hand thin the tree this spring. It's a good thing it's not a very large tree. But I agree with you, it's time-consuming, and I prefer trees that are self-thinning.

Wife cuts the Collet in small pieces for pies and when done I'd say about half is soft and the rest a bit firm...in other words, it doesn't turn all into sauce.