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Apple Varieties for Organic Home Gardeners

Johnny Appleseed Can Visit Your Backyard

Varieties are selected as good options for organically managed home orchards in Pennsylvania. Not all varieties are available each year.
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Apples

Braburn
Braeburn apples are medium to large in size and are oval in shape. The thin, bi-colored skin has a yellow base and is covered with red to pink blush and red striping. The striping and blush will vary in degree of visibility depending on the climate in which the fruit has matured. Its firm flesh is pale yellow to gold and contains a few dark brown seeds in the center of the fibrous core. Braeburn apples are very crisp and juicy with a sweet flavor combined with subtle hints of spice, pear, nutmeg, and cinnamon.


Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance are suitable pollinators for Braburn
Picture of braburn Apple

Crimson Crisp
CrimsonCrisp® is medium in size with a very attractive crimson red color over 95% of the fruit surface. CrimsonCrisp® has a very firm, crisp texture with a tart, complex flavor. The tree is very grower friendly with a spreading habit, fruiting throughout the two- and three-year old branches. The fruit matures in mid-season and will keep in cold storage for six months. CrimsonCrisp® is a registered trademark of Purdue Research Foundation.

Requires a pollinator: Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Crimson Crisp
Picture of crimson crisp apple

Empire
Empire is a vigorous and precocious tree with an attractive, spreading growth habit. It is susceptible to scab, mildew, and bitter rot, but somewhat resistant to fireblight and cedar-apple rust.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, Idared, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Empire

Picture of empire apple

Enterprise
Developed by Purdue University, this is a late-maturing, deep red apple with good keeping qualities.  Fruit is uniform and medium to large in size.  Tree is vigorous and spreading, with good annual bearing habits.  Enterprise is highly resistant to fire blight and cedar apple rust.  

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Enterprise

Picture of enterprise apple

Freedom
Large multipurpose apple good for fresh eating, sauce and juice.  Fruit color is red striping over yellow background, and the flesh is cream-colored and medium-firm.  Freedom blooms three days after McIntosh and ripens with Red Delicious.  Tree is vigorous and moderately resistant to mildew and fire blight.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance, and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Freedom,

Picture of freedom apple

Fuji
​The apple is large and blockish. It is striped pink over a yellow background, and the flesh is very fine grained, snappy, and juicy. The flavor is ridiculously sweet with no detectable acid. In Apples of Uncommon Character, Jacobsen observes hints of lychee, mango, and cantaloupe, and he goes on to note that while apple snobs may reject the lack of acidic balance, Fuji is, nevertheless, the most produced apple in the world (occupying 70 percent of the Chinese market), thus demonstrating that the world in general "loves sweet apples." Fuji stores well and will keep its flavor for over three months in regular refrigeration.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Goldrush, Honeycrisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pri
stine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance, and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Fuji.
Picture of fuji apple

Gala
Crisp and snappy! One of your favorite grocery store apples is even better homegrown. Fruit is delectably sweet-tart, which makes it a great fresh-eating apple. In addition, it cooks and stores well, so plan to make this your go-to cooking and canning apple, too. Hangs well on the tree late into the season. Ripens in early October.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Ginger Gold, Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance are suitable pollinators for Gala.

Picture of gala apple

Ginger Gold
The color, shape, and distinctive long stalk all identify it as a relation of Golden Delicious, yet it has a much earlier season - ripening in mid/late August.  Unusually for an early apple, but again reflecting a Golden Delicious parentage, it is a good keeper and will last several weeks in the fridge. The flavor is fairly mild, and a bit sharper than Golden Delicious but still sweet for an early variety.
Ginger Gold is generally considered one of the best early-season apples.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance are suitable pollinators for Ginger Gold
Picture

Golden Delicious
One of the most widely planted apple cultivars worldwide. Fruit is firm, medium to large with the classic Golden Delicious flavor. The tree is spreading, productive and easy to manage.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlet O'Hara, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Golden Delicious

Picture of golden delicious apple

Goldrush
This dessert-apple tree is disease-resistant to apple scab and powdery mildew. Fruit has a tart, tangy flavor that sweetens with age. Excellent fresh or in pies and crisps. ​

Requires a Pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Honey Crisp, Pristine,  Redfree, Scarlet O'Hara, Suncrisp and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Goldrush.
Picture of goldrush apple

Honeycrisp
​This popular variety was developed at the University of Minnesota.  The fruit is mostly orange-red with a yellow background.  This crisp, juicy, sweet-tart apple has a rich flavor that has made it "#1" in taste panels.  The fruit averages 3 inches and up, matures ten days before Red Delicious and stores well.  Outstanding winter hardiness gives this variety excellent potential for northern growing regions.  Honeycrisp is moderately resistant to apple scab.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Goldrush, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Honeycrisp.

Picture of honeycrisp apple

Idared
A dual-purpose apple, suitable for both fresh and process markets. Idared is a solid bright red apple that keeps well in long-term storage. This medium-vigor tree bears young and annually with heavy crops. Blooms early and makes a good pollenizer. ​

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Freedom, Fuji, McIntosh, Redfree, Suncrisp, William's Pride, and Zestar! are suitable pollinators for Idared
Picture of idared apple

Jonagold
​Jonagold apples have an under blush which varies in color from greenish yellow to rosy orange depending on the strain and the temperature the apples are grown in. The skin is also covered with red spotting and vertical striping. Large in size its flesh is crisp, juicy and creamy yellow in color. The Jonagold apple has a balanced blend of both its parents’ flavors offering the sweet-tart taste found in the Jonathan and the aromatic honey like scent of the Golden Delicious.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlet O'Hara, Suncrisp, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Jonagold

Picture of jonagold apple

Mutsu (Crispin)
Complex and spicy flavor. This tree is the result of a cross between the Golden Delicious and the sweet Japanese variety apple called Indo. Also known by the name Crispin Apple, the fruit is larger and rounder than Golden Delicious. Resists russeting and is best eaten fresh from the tree. Keeps well in proper storage without shriveling. ​

Requires TWO pollinators: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance, and William's Pride, are suitable pollinators for Mutsu. 

Picture of Mutsu apple

Liberty
A medium-sized, yellow-fleshed dessert apple with 90 percent red over yellow background color. Tree is vigorous, spreading and an annual bearer. Liberty is resistant to apple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight and mildew. A good choice for the home gardener.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Freedom, Fiji, Idared, McIntosh, Redfree, and Suncrisp are suitable pollinators for Liberty

Picture of McIntosh apple

McIntosh
Cold-hardy native of Canada. Round, red, mildly tart fruit has a soft texture when cooked. Gives apple sauce and cider a spicy kick; bakes up juicy and tender. Ripens in mid Sept. ​

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Freedom, Fuji, Idared, Redfree, Suncrisp, William's Pride and Zestar! are suitable pollinators for McIntosh.
Picture

Pristine 
Pristine is a yellow apple with smooth, glossy skin. Fruit is high in sugar content with very good keeping quality for an early season apple. The tree is vigorous and considered very scab resistant, although somewhat susceptible to fire blight.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Pristine
Picture of Pristine apple

Redfree
Redfree matures in early August. This is considered a dessert-quality apple with bright red color over a yellow background. The tree is semi-upright and crops annually. 

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pristine, Scarlett O'Hara, Suncrisp, Sundance, and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Redfree.

Picture of Redfree apple
Scarlett O'Hara
The fruit has good dessert quality and stores up to six months in storage. It has resistance to scab and cedar apple rust, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, but it susceptible to fire blight.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Idared, Pristine, Redfree, Suncrisp, and Sundance are suitable pollinators for Scarlett O'Hara
Picture


Suncrisp
​This apple’s color gives it a sunset-worthy appearance. Its heritage includes Cox’s Orange Pippin and Golden Delicious making the fruit sweet, rich and mildly aromatic. Vigorous tree produces good crops that keep well, allowing you to pluck a delicious snack out of the refrigerator up to 5 months after harvest.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Gold Rush, Honey Crisp, Idared, McIntosh, Pristine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, Sundance and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Suncrisp.

Picture of suncrisp apple

Sundance
These large, beautiful apples have a porcelain to yellow-green skin, often with a red blush and a unique, citrusy flavor. The crisp, creamy white flesh has a sweet-tart taste with hints of lemon and pineapple. Its crisp texture makes it excellent for eating fresh—and it also holds up well when baked. ​

Requires a pollinator:  Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Gold Rush, Honeycrisp, Pri
stine, Redfree, Scarlett O'Hara, and Suncrisp are suitable pollinators for Sundance. 
Picture of sundance apple

William's Pride
​This tree is perfect for the backyard or any type of organic production: It is vigorous, spreading, and sturdy, with good branch angles. Cold hardy to zone 4, Williams' Pride is also resistant to fireblight, powdery mildew, and cedar-apple rust, and field immune to scab. This is a delicious and easy-to-grow early-season apple, and it also has an extended bloom (early through to late-mid), making it a great pollenizer.

Requires a pollinator: Crimson Crisp, Empire, Freedom, Fuji, Idared, McIntosh, Redfree, Suncrisp, and Zestar! are suitable pollinators for William's Pride

Picture of williams pride apple

Zestar!
​It is a very pretty, round, rosy red apple. The flesh is juicy and crisp, with a sprightly zest (hence its name) that sweetened with caramel sugars. It stores well for six-eight weeks, and is firm enough to please most bakers. Zestar! has an extended harvest time and requires a couple of pickings, making it a great apple for home orchardists.

Requires a pollinator: Idared, McIntosh, and William's Pride are suitable pollinators for Zestar!

Picture of zestar! apple

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  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Garden Management
    • Garden Planning
  • Services
    • Soil Preparation
    • Soil Testing
    • Soil Fertility Management
    • Vegetable Planting
    • Pest and Disease Control
    • Garden Sitting
  • Installations
    • Raised Beds
    • Traditional Gardens
    • Fruit Trees >
      • Apple Varieties
      • Apricot Varities
      • Cherry Varieties
      • Nectarine Varieties
      • Peach Varieties
      • Pear Varieties
      • Plum Varieties
    • Brambles
    • Blueberries
    • Strawberries
    • Compost
    • Season Extension
    • Drip Irrigation
    • Fencing
    • Paths
  • Homegrown News
  • Glossary