Difficulty

apples require high effort to manage if you wish to get unblemished fruit.
∙ disease resistant varieties
∙ moderately wet climate

Bloom

apples bloom quite late in comparison to most other species, so the flowers often avoid frost damage.

Disease and Pests

Fireblight can kill susceptible varieties under favorable conditions. If you have wet springs, it is advised that you only purchase blight resistant trees to keep damage to a minimal. Apple scab will primarily harm the fruit. Apples that are affected are still edible, but it will reduce their storage duration. Cedar apple rust can infect the leaves, fruit, and young twigs in areas that contain junipers. This is particularly true for the eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is common throughout the eastern half of the United States.

Apples are quite susceptible to a number of pests. Codling moth is the most damaging, but plum curculio can greatly disfigure them in high pressure areas. The apple maggot fly is a fairly common issue as well.

Biennial Bearing

Some apples labeled as annual bearers may behave in a biennial manner, and many biennial apples can be annual bearers if thinned heavily early in the season. Other factors that may determine if a variety is biennial or not includes exposure to shade, soil nutrition, and rootstock.

Storage

Apples are best stored between the temperatures of 32-38F, but some of the longest storing varieties may be able to last for awhile around temperatures as high as 55F (based on a very limited amount of experience). Many varieties, particularly the more acidic ones, will develop a better flavor (and decrease acidity) after a month or so in storage. Other varieties will lose flavor rather quickly.

Other

Apples aren't affected by an occasional light frost, they can handle temperatures around 26F for some time without freezing. High sugar apples may be apple to handle temperatures a few degrees lower.

Apples: Malus spp. (R+++)

A list of apple varieties that have some resistance to all three major diseases (fireblight, scab, rust).

Akane

🔍

Jonathan x Worcester Pearmain. Developed in Japan (1970).

Zone

• 5 (4) ◦ 800 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid
• annual bearer

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust, scab, fireblight, and mildew.

Arkansas Black

🔍

Believed to be a seedling of Winesap. Originated in Benton County, Arkansas around 1870.

Zone

• 5? ◦ 500 chill hours

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• late
• annual bearer

Fruit

• sweet-tart, hard flesh

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• At least somewhat resistant to cedar apple rust, fireblight, and desert heat. Somewhat resistant to apple scab.
Resistance to powdery mildew?

Arkansas Black is not a heavy cropper, but it appears to produce annually without thinning.

Chestnut

🔍

Malinda x open pollination. Introduced in Minnesota (1949).

Zone

• 2a? (3)

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid
• annual bearer

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• 2", high sugar and high acid, may have a nutty flavor

Storage

• 1 month

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust, mildew, and fireblight. Somewhat resistant to scab.

Enterprise

🔍

PRI 1661-2 x PRI 1661-1. Developed by PRI (1993).

Zone

• 4?

Ripens

🍏

• late
• annual bearer

Fruit

• sweet-tart, tough skin

Storage

• up to 6 months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab. Resistant to rust and fireblight. Somewhat resistant to mildew.

Freedom

🔍

NY 18492 (Macoun x Antonovka) x NY 49821-46 (Golden Delicious x F2 26829-2 2). Developed in Geneva, New York (1983).

Zone

• 4

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late? (mid)

Storage

• 3 or 4 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab, fireblight, mildew, and rust.

Haralson

🔍

Malinda x open pollination (probably Wealthy). Introduced in Minnesota (1922).

Zone

• 2a ◦ 1000 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid?
• biennial
• precocious

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• sweet-tart, possibly more on the tart side

Storage

• 5 months

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to fireblight, mildew, rust, and scab.

Keepsake

🔍

Frostbite x Northern Spy. Introduced in Minnesota (1979).

Zone

• 3a

Ripens

🍏

• late
• somewhat biennial?

Fruit

• sweet, hard flesh

Storage

• roughly 6 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust and fireblight. Somewhat resistant to scab.

Keepsake is a parent of Honeycrisp. It has more flavor, but the texture is a little less crisp.

Liberty

🔍

Macoun x Purdue 54-12. Introduced in Geneva, New York (1978).

Zone

• 4 ◦ 800 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid
• annual bearer

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• a few months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab and rust. Resistant to mildew and fireblight.

Nova Easygro

🔍

Spartan x PRI 565. Introduced in Nova Scotia (1971).

Zone

• 3

Ripens

🍏

• mid?
• annual bearer

Fruit

• sweet-tart?

Storage

• 4 months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab and (cedar apple) rust. Resistant to mildew. Somewhat resistant to fireblight.
Susceptible to quince rust.

Redfree

🔍

Raritan x PRI 1018-101. Introduced by PRI in 1981.

Ripens

🍏

• early (very early)
• annual bearer
• uneven ripening, may require more than 1 picking

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 2 months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab and rust. Somewhat resistant to mildew and fireblight.

Roxbury Russet

🔍

unknown parentage. Originated in Roxbury, Massachusetts (early to mid 1600's).

Zone

• 4

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late?
• annual bearer

Color

• green or russet skin

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid

Storage

• stores well

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab and rust.
Resistant to fireblight?
Susceptible to mildew?

Roxbury Russet is the first named apple cultivar in the United States.

Spartan

🔍

McIntosh x Newtown Pippin. Introduced in British Columbia (1936).

Zone

• 3

Ripens

🍏

• mid
• annual bearer
• precocious

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• will store for a few months but flavor and crispness fade with time.

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab, rust, mildew, and fireblight.

Spartan may experience some premature drop, but it's not as bad as its parent 'McIntosh'.

William's Pride

🔍

PRI 1018-101 x NJ 50 (Mollie's Delicious x Julyred). Developed by PRI. PP6268 (1988).

Zone

• 4

Blooms

💮

• ◦ extended bloom

Ripens

🍏

• very early ◦ roughly 1 week after Lodi
• somewhat biennial

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 1.5 months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab, rust, and fireblight. Resistant to mildew.
Somewhat susceptible to bitter pit on vigorous rootstock.

Apples: (R)

Varieties that are resistant to fireblight *or* the other two common apples diseases (scab and rust).

American Golden Russet

🔍

English Russet x open pollination. Originated in New York (mid 1700's).

Zone

• 4 ◦ 800+ chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• late

Color

• russet skin

Fruit

• sweet-tart, high sugar and high acid

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab and rust.
English Golden Russet is susceptible to fireblight, but I am not sure about the American variant.

There are two Golden Russet apples, American and English, and they are supposedly quite different from one another. Both appear to have some disease resistance. English has high sugar and high acid, while American is probably moderately acidic when ripe. American bears primarily on the tips and ripens a few weeks earlier than English. English may be a spur-type. Both are considered to be good, but more experienced growers seem to be more interested in the English type as they tend to gravitate towards high sugar/high acid varieties.

Ashmead's Kernel

🔍

Probably a seedling of Nonpareil. Discovered in Gloucester, England (early 1700's).

Zone

• 3a? (4) ◦ 800+ chill hours

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late (late)
• biennial
• precocious

Color

• russet skin

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid

Storage

• 3 or 4 months

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to scab and rust.
Somewhat susceptible to bitter pit.
Somewhat susceptible to fireblight? Susceptible to mildew?

Like many apples, Ashmead's Kernel is best eaten after some time in storage.

Belle De Boskoop

🔍

possibly a sport of Reinette de Montfort. Originated in Boskoop, Holland (1856).

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• very late (late)
• annual bearer
• slow to bear

Color

• russet skin

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab.

Blue Pearmain

🔍

unknown parentage. Discovered in the early 1800's, possibly around Massachusetts.

Zone

• 4

Ripens

🍏

• late?

Fruit

• sweet or sweet-tart

Storage

• around 6 months

Blue Pearmain is an exceedingly controversial apple. Some consider it to be one of their favorites, others don't care for it at all. This may, in part, have to do with climate (the north may be preferred).

Claygate Pearmain

🔍

Discovered in England (1821).

Zone

• 4a?

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• late?
• annual bearer?
• precocious?

Growth

• semi-dwarf?

Fruit

• may have nutty tones

Storage

• 1 or 2 months?

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab.
Susceptible to rot.

Cortland

🔍

Ben Davis x McIntosh. Introduced in New York (1915).

Zone

• 3a

Ripens

🍏

• mid? (mid)
• annual bearer
• precocious

Storage

• 4 months

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to somewhat susceptible to fireblight?
Susceptible to scab, rust and mildew.

Empire

🔍

McIntosh x Red Delicious. Introduced in Geneva, New York (1966).

Zone

• 4a ◦ 800 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late
• annual bearer
• precocious

Fruit

• moderate to moderately-low in acid

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust and fireblight.
Susceptible to scab and mildew.

Erwin Bauer

🔍

seedling of Duchess of Oldenburg, possibly crossed with Cox's Orange Pippin. Originated in Germany (1928).

Zone

• 4

Ripens

🍏

• early
• annual bearer
• precocious

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• stores well (in cold storage). lasts about a week at room temperature.

Erwin Bauer apples hang on the tree for an additional 2 weeks after the seeds turned brown, but the flavor and acidity level does not appear to benefit from the wait. The flavor is similar to McIntosh.

Fameuse

🔍

unknown parentage. Discovered in Quebec during the 1600's.

Alias

• Snow

Zone

• 4 ◦ 600 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid
• biennial

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• a few months

Afflictions

• Resistant to fireblight, canker, and mildew.
Susceptible to scab.

Fameuse may be a parent of McIntosh.

Frostbite

🔍

Malinda x open pollination. Originated in Minnesota (1936), named in 2008.

Alias

• Minnesota 447, MN 447

Zone

• 3? (4)

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late
• annual bearer

Growth

• semi-dwarf?

Fruit

• sweet?

Storage

• 4 months

Galarina

🔍

Gala x Florina Querina. Developed in France.

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late

Fruit

• sweet-tart?

Storage

• up to 4 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab, mildew, and fireblight.

GoldRush

🔍

Golden Delicious x Co-op 17. Developed by PRI (1972). Released in 1994?

Zone

• 5a

Ripens

🍏

• late (very late)
• biennial

Color

• green or yellow skin

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid, hard flesh

Storage

• 7+ months

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab and mildew. Resistant to fireblight.
Susceptible to rust.

GoldRush ripens later than most other "late" apples, but it still ripens before Pink Lady.

Goodland

🔍

Patten Greening x open pollination. Developed in Manitoba (1925). Introduced in 1955.

Zone

• 3 (2b)

Ripens

🍏

• early?
• annual bearer

Fruit

• soft flesh
• sweet?

Storage

• 2 to 5 months?

Afflictions

• Resistant to fireblight.

Hawkeye

🔍

Originated in Iowa around 1870-1880.

Alias

• Red Delicious

Zone

• 5 (4)

Ripens

🍏

•
• annual bearer

Color

• does not have a consistent dark red color

Fruit

• sweet

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to rust. Resistant to fireblight and mildew.
Susceptible to scab.

Hawkeye was the original Red Delicious before bud mutations of its bud mutations (and so on) took its place. It is said to have good flavor, unlike some of those labeled "Red Delicious" at the store (others can be quite good, though).

Honeycrisp

🔍

Keepsake x open pollination. Introduced in Minnesota (1991). PP7197

Zone

• 3a ◦ 800+ chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid
• biennial

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• moderate to moderately-low in acid

Storage

• up to 7 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to fireblight. Somewhat resistant to scab.
Susceptible to mildew and rust.

Hudson's Golden Gem

🔍

Discovered in Oregon (1931)

Zone

• 3 ◦ 600 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• late?
• annual bearer

Color

• russet skin

Fruit

• sweet? may have nut and pear flavors

Storage

• 3 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab and mildew. Somewhat resistant to fireblight.
Susceptible to rot?

Kidd's Orange Red

🔍

Cox's Orange Pippin x Red Delicious. Introduced in New Zealand (1924).

Ripens

🍏

• mid? (early-mid)
• biennial

Fruit

• sweet-tart? (sweet)

Storage

• 2 months

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to scab.
Susceptible to canker.

Mother

🔍

unknown parentage. Discovered in Massachusetts around 1840.

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid?
• annual bearer?

Fruit

• sweet or sweet-tart? soft flesh?

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab.
Resistant to mildew and rust?
Susceptible to canker and fireblight?

Pixie Crunch

🔍

PCF 2-134 x PRI 669-205. Developed by PRI.

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid?
• somewhat biennial
• precocious

Fruit

• sweet to sweet-tart

Storage

• 2 months before flavor declines

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab. May have "some" resistance to fireblight.
Susceptible to rust and mildew.

Prima

🔍

PRI 14-510 x NJ 123249. Developed by PRI (1957).

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid?
• biennial

Fruit

• sweet to sweet-tart

Storage

• 1 month or so

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab. At least somewhat resistant to fireblight and mildew.
Susceptible to rust?

Pristine

🔍

Cazumat x Co-op 10 (Starking Delicious x PRI 610-2). Originated in Indiana. PP9881 filed in 1995.

Zone

• 5a (4)

Ripens

🍏

• very early ◦ ~1 to 1.5 weeks after Lodi and White Transparent
• biennial

Color

• yellow skin

Fruit

• moderate to moderately-low in acid

Yield

• moderately productive

Storage

• 1 month

Afflictions

• Highly resistant to scab. Resistant to mildew.
Somewhat resistant to rust?
Somewhat susceptible to fireblight?

The 'Pristine' apple was once claimed to be resistant to fireblight, but this is likely false.

September Ruby

🔍

Rescue x Haralson. Originated in Morden, Manitoba. Introduced in Beaverlodge, Alberta (1986).

Zone

• 2a (1)

Ripens

🍏

• mid?
• biennial?

Growth

• semi-dwarf?

Fruit

• sweet-tart?

Storage

• 4 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to fireblight.
Susceptible to scab?

Suncrisp

🔍

? (Cox's Orange Pippin x Cortland) x Golden Delicious. Developed in New Jersey.

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late? (late) ◦ 1-3 weeks after Golden Delicious
• biennial
• precocious

Color

• yellow skin, can be somewhat russeted in certain climates

Fruit

• sweet-tart, high sugar, the flesh resists browning

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust. Somewhat resistant to scab.
Susceptible to fireblight.

Suncrisp is a high sugar apple that can be very acidic if picked a little too early (it should be rather moderate). Storing it for a few weeks will also help reduce the acidity. Like many other highly rated apples, the flavors are often described as complex. It sounds like it is more pronounced than usual with Suncrisp, but to get the full effect, it is recommended that you leave it hang on the tree for as long as possible.

Sundowner

🔍

Golden Delicious x Lady Williams. Developed in Australia (1979).

Alias

• Cripps Red

Zone

• ◦ low chill

Ripens

🍏

• very late
• precocious

Sundowner is one of the last apple varieties to ripen (even later than Pink Lady). It requires a fairly long and hot summer.

Sweet Sixteen

🔍

Frostbite x Northern Spy. Developed in Minnesota (1973). Introduced in 1979.

Zone

• 3

Ripens

🍏

• mid?
• annual bearer
• precocious?

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to scab and fireblight.

Sweet Sixteen is known for occasionally developing unique tones, which is probably more consistent in cool summer climates. The apples, when left on the tree longer than necessary, are often said to develop a strong licorice flavor, but some do not seem to care for it.

Trailman

🔍

Trail x Osman. Originated in Morden, Manitoba. Introduced in Beaverlodge, Alberta (1973).

Zone

• 2

Ripens

🍏

• very early? (early)
• annual bearer
• precocious

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid

Afflictions

• Resistant to fireblight.

Trailman is considered to be one of the best to grow in cool summer climates, considering it produces exceptionally high quality apples for something that ripens so early. However, quality may end up being rather poor in hot summer climates.

Trent

🔍

McIntosh x R18T40 Jonathan x (Rome Beauty x Malus floribunda 821). Introduced in Ontario (1979).

Zone

• 4

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late?

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• Resistant (possibly very resistant) to scab. Resistant to mildew. At least somewhat resistant to fireblight.
There are conflicting reports on rust.

Wealthy

🔍

Originated in Excelsior, Minnesota (1868).

Zone

• 3 ◦ 1000 chill hours

Blooms

💮

• ◦ extended bloom

Ripens

🍏

• early-mid
• biennial
• drops when mature

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 3 months

Afflictions

• conflicting reports on disease resistance

White Transparent

🔍

chance seedling. Originated in Russia (mid 1800's).

Alias

• Yellow Transparent

Zone

• 2 (3) ◦ 800+ chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• very early ◦ ~1.5 weeks before Pristine
• biennial
• precocious

Color

• green skin, sometimes yellow.

Fruit

• sweet-tart to tart, soft flesh

Storage

• stores poorly

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to scab, rust, and mildew.
Somewhat susceptible to canker. Susceptible to fireblight.

White Transparent can be fairly good during a very short time period, otherwise they are either quite acidic or overripe. Their best quality is that they are one of the first apples to ripen by a good 2-4 weeks.

Winecrisp

🔍

Rock 41-112 (NJ 381049 x Cox's Orange Pippin) x PRI 841-103 (PRI 10-147 x Starking). Introduced by PRI (1990).

Zone

• 5? (4)

Ripens

🍏

• late
• At least somewhat biennial?

Fruit

• sweet to sweet-tart

Storage

• up to 9 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab and fireblight. Somewhat resistant to mildew.
Somewhat susceptible to rust.

Wolf River

🔍

Alexander x Entered? Discovered near the Wolf River of Wisconsin (1875).

Zone

• 3a (2b) ◦ 1000 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid
• slow to bear

Fruit

• 4", sweet-tart, dry flesh that becomes soft in storage

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab and mildew. Somewhat resistant to rust and canker.
Somewhat susceptible to fireblight.

Wolf River is a McIntosh-type apple. It is not good for fresh eating right off the tree due to its unusually dry texture, but it does improve in storage. Alternatively, Wolf River is excellent for cooking.

Zestar

🔍

State Fair x MN 1691. Introduced in Minnesota (1999).

Alias

• Minnewashta

Zone

• 3

Ripens

🍏

• early
• annual bearer
• precocious

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 1.5 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to mildew. Somewhat resistant to fireblight and rust.
Susceptible to scab.

Apples: (S)

Varieties that are quite susceptible to disease but have a potentially useful trait.

Cox's Orange Pippin

🔍

seedling of Ribston Pippin. Originated in England around 1825.

Zone

• 5 ◦ 600 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid?

Fruit

• sweet or sweet-tart

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab and canker.
Susceptible to fireblight?

Egremont Russet

🔍

Originated in England before 1872.

Zone

• 3a

Ripens

🍏

• mid?
• annual bearer

Color

• russet skin

Fruit

• sweet-tart, may have a nutty flavor

Storage

• stores well

Afflictions

• Resistant to scab.
Susceptible to rot. Highly susceptible to fireblight.

Esopus Spitzenburg

🔍

unknown parentage. Originated in Esopus, New York before 1790.

Zone

• 4 ◦ 600-800 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late
• biennial

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid, may be best eaten after a month or so in storage
• hard flesh? tough skin?

Storage

• roughly 5 months

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab, canker, and fireblight. Probably Susceptible to other diseases as well.

Ginger Gold

🔍

Ripens

🍏

• early
• annual bearer

Color

• yellow skin

Afflictions

• Somewhat susceptible to scab, rust, mildew, and fireblight?

Granny Smith

🔍

a french crabapple x unknown. Discovered in Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia (1868).

Zone

• 5 ◦ 400 chill hours

Blooms

💮

• ◦ extended bloom

Ripens

🍏

• late (very late)
• somewhat biennial

Color

• green skin

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• tart when harvested early, hard flesh

Storage

• 6 months

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab, mildew, and fireblight.
Somewhat susceptible to rust?

Granny Smith apples are often very tart because they are purposely harvested quite early. When allowed to ripen properly, they are more sweet-tart and may have a red blush with green-yellow skin.

Gravenstein

🔍

Originated in Italy (early 1600's).

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• early
• biennial

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• roughly 2 months

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab, mildew, canker, and fireblight.

Gravenstein is known for producing excellent quality fruit for an early ripening apple.

Honeygold

🔍

Golden Delicious x Haralson. Released in Minnesota (1970).

Zone

• 2a ◦ may experience some damage around -50F

Ripens

🍏

• late?

Color

• yellow skin

Fruit

• sweet

Storage

• 3 months

Afflictions

• Somewhat resistant to scab and mildew?
Susceptible to rust and fireblight.

Honeygold was bred to be a more cold hardy version of Golden Delicious. It is sweeter and crisper but has a little less flavor.

King David

🔍

Jonathan x (Arkansas Black or Winesap). Discovered in Arkansas (1893).

Ripens

🍏

• late
• precocious

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust?
Somewhat susceptible to scab? Susceptible to fireblight?

Macoun

🔍

McIntosh x Jersey Black. Developed in New York (1909).

Zone

• 4

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late
• biennial
• precocious

Fruit

• sweet-tart, more on the sweet side (less acidic than McIntosh)

Storage

• 3-4 months? possibly much less

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust. Somewhat resistant to mildew.
Susceptible to scab.
Susceptible to fireblight?

Orleans Reinette

🔍

Originated in France around 1776.

Zone

• 4a?

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late?
• biennial

Fruit

• sweet-tart, may have nut and citrus tones

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab and fireblight.

Pink Lady

🔍

Golden Delicious x Lady Williams. Developed in Australia (1970's).

Alias

• Cripps Pink

Zone

• ◦ low chill

Ripens

🍏

• very late
• one of the last to ripen

Storage

• up to 8 months

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust and mildew.
Susceptible to scab and fireblight.

Pink Lady may struggle to ripen in the north.

Tolman Sweet

🔍

Sweet Greening x Old Russet. May have originated in Massachusetts possibly before the 1700's.

Zone

• 3?

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late?
• somewhat biennial
• precocious?

Color

• yellow skin, commonly with a suture line

Fruit

• sweet

Afflictions

• Somewhat susceptible to fireblight.

Wickson

🔍

Introduced in California (1944).

Ripens

🍏

• ???
• annual bearer

Fruit

• high sugar and high acid with some astringency, hard flesh, may have an apricot tone

Afflictions

• Susceptible to rust, cracking, and rot.
Somewhat susceptible to scab and fireblight?

I seem to be missing something here. There is no clear pattern as to when Wickson ripens. Some harvest them around mid September while others harvest them in late October. At this time, I cannot say that it's primarily related to the climate.

Winesap

🔍

Flowers

• sterile (triploid)

Ripens

🍏

• late

Fruit

• sweet-tart

Storage

• 6+ months

Afflictions

• Resistant to rust and mildew.
Somewhat susceptible to fireblight. Susceptible to scab.

Winter Banana

🔍

Introduced in Cass County, Indiana (1890).

Zone

• 3 (4) ◦ 100-400 chill hours

Ripens

🍏

• mid-late?
• precocious

Growth

• semi-dwarf

Fruit

• sweet, may have a little acidity

Afflictions

• Susceptible to scab, rust, mildew, and fireblight.

Winter Banana scionwood can be used as an interstem to graft pears onto apple trees. There may be some variety limitations, and we are not entirely sure how long they can last. At least one pear has lived long enough on a WB interstem to fruit. Others I have read about aren't old enough, but are still alive after a few years. One claims to have grafted Winter Banana to a pear rootstock as well. It is (supposedly) over a half decade old and has been fruiting.