This is a hardy, high-vigor tree that crops reliably and has excellent disease resistance–no control is needed for scab. Cornell notes that a number of its fruit develop parthenocarpically (without fertilization, therefore without seeds), and that this results in some irregularly shaped apples. It is not as precocious as Liberty or Empire.

NY 35 is a Liberty and Red Delicious cross that ripens after Red Delicious with a very lage, dark red fruit. It was never released by Cornell, but after we sent a tree to the organic orchardist Michael Phillips, he eventually named it Bonkers, which really is a perfect name for these wonky, delicious apples. He writes about this variety: "I have not seen one speck of scab on a single apple. . . . Flavor-wise, I describe Bonkers (= NY 35) as having a proper amount of 'puck' with juice and complexity part of the mix. It is that 'smooth acidity' that makes you feel you're eating a righteous apple. It tastes good picked just a tad early and really picks up those Empire fruity overtones when left to fully tree ripen." From Roger Chamberlain, Spokane: "It is one of the best looking trees in the orchard and one of our favorite all purpose apples." Duane Greene at the University of Massachusetts wrote: "I evaluated a number of NY scab resistant apples this year and this is probably the best. It ripens in mid October. It is large, extremely crisp and juicy and quite attractive with 80 to 90% red color. The acidity is fairly high and this may mask some of the flavor. Essentially, it is a good apple."