Exploring New and Old Apple Varieties: A Guide to Modern Cultivation and Care

As the appetite for unique and flavorful apples continues to grow, horticulturists around the world are developing exciting new apple varieties that not only tantalize the taste buds but also offer great potential for home gardeners. Many of these varieties such as the Honeycrisp, Gala, Cosmic Crisp, and SweeTango have garnered a lot of attention due to their exceptional flavor, crisp texture, and resilience to common diseases. However, the genetic traits that make an apple perfect for commercial mass production often rob the palette of the intense flavors we remember from years ago.

Couple that with long storage times and the apples that you purchase in the summer will rarely have the same delicious sweetness or the mouthwatering tartness of those purchased at your local farmers market in the fall.

According to a 2007 Cambridge University study (1), “demands of the conventional commercial market with regards to transportation, appearance and storage exclude the old varieties. On the other hand, there is a strong congruence between sales in local markets and production of old varieties. Local markets, such as roadside stands and ‘pick-your-own’ operations, play an important role in the preservation of heirloom varieties of apples.”

With the ever-growing awareness of the benefits of biodiversity, more and more local and small scale growers are returning to heirloom varieties in order to provide their customers the authenticity of flavors that can only be gleaned locally. As of 2020, most local orchards across the country now devote 18-25% of their production to older varieties that are not commercially available. These include old time favorites like Winesap, Russet, Braeburn, Arkansas Black, Golden Delicious and Newton Pippin.

Shopping locally or growing some of these varieties in your own backyard or miniature orchard enables you to taste the genuine article as it was intended to be tasted, a mouth watering combination of sweetness and tartness with a hundred undertones of flavor eaten at the exact peak of freshness.

Choosing the Right Variety

When selecting apple varieties to grow in your own backyard, consider your local climate, the time it takes for fruit to mature, disease resistance, and the apple’s intended use—whether for fresh eating, baking, or cider-making, and the proper rootstock for your location.

Harvest Times

Most apples mature between late August and November, with October being the perfect sweet spot. Choosing varieties that ripen at different times will enable you to enjoy your fresh fruit over the season. Knowing your zone and your chill hours is essential for success. While most apples are best grown in Northern, colder zones, many hybrids of older varieties have been developed to enable Southern growers to

enjoy a subset of apples specifically targeted to withstand extreme heat. Each tree supplier will list the correct harvest date for their area. Make sure you purchase from a supplier that grows for your zone.

To find your zone visit https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ 

To find your average chill hours per month, visit https://chill-hours.streamlit.app/

Disease Resistance

Fungal, bacterial and viral disease resistance is paramount for the backyard grower. Fireblight, Rust, Scab and Powdery Mildew are common apple ailments. Choosing disease resistant varieties will help provided that the growing environment is also properly managed. A clean orchard is a happier orchard. Preventative sprays can also provide a layer of protection.

Newer varieties often exhibit improved disease resistance; for instance, Cosmic Crisp is renowned for its toughness against apple scab and powdery mildew, making it an excellent choice for organic gardeners. Do your research before introducing a very prone tree into your garden.

Eat, Bake or Store?

The type of apple you choose is also important. While all apples can be enjoyed fresh, varieties that boast repeated entry into annual top ten lists include: Crispin, Fuji, Anna, Envy, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, and Jazz. Many of these are hybrids from the old world apples.

For baking apples, the more tart the better. Sugar can always be added to balance the tartness but nothing can lower the sugar content of a super sweet apple. Even adding enough lemon juice to add the tang can alter the texture of your precious pie. Granny Smith, McIntosh, Pink Lady, and Winesaps are all great choices.

For storing apples, Arkansas Black tops the list. Braeburn, Pippins and Russets are also excellent and their taster improves over time. Many of these varieties are harvester later which already gives them a jumpstart on storage.

Planting Essentials

Plant your apple trees in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Aim for full sun, ideally 6-8 hours a day. The best time to plant is during the fall to early spring when the trees are dormant. Ensure adequate spacing—typically 15-20 feet apart for standard trees and 8-10 feet for dwarf varieties—to promote healthy airflow and reduce disease risk.
Ongoing Care