I’m trying to find a long list of Apple varieties so I can choose varieties with harvest times spread throughout the entire season. It seems like most nurseries do have a harvest calendar, but only for the varieties that they sell. Does anyone know of a more comprehensive Harvest calendar?
Would it be better for me to list the varieties I have planted already and those that are coming this spring and you could put them in order for me?
I’ve used that for some. It’s in the right relative order.
Apple-Ripening-Chart-Ripening-Date.pdf (95.2 KB)
Adams County has a fairly wide range of cutivrs on theirs:
Cummins also lists ripening dates for many cultivars, but I’m not sure they’ve compiled it into an infographic.
Note that these harvest dates are geared towards commercial producers, so for the best flavor and sugars I usually add 2-4 more weeks depending on variety.
Great info! Thank you
I find this useful to sort varieties in the general month they ripen. Adjust to your zone as this is in Wisconsin.
2024 Apples Zone and Ripening (1).pdf (379.6 KB)
Unless you have over 50 varieties in the works, your list might be useful. I have a pile of lists when I was deciding what to try years ago & am willing to take a stab at listing their likely harvest order.
@Leveraction35 Since you don’t mention where you live when we click on your byline, it is only fair to say Raintree operates in the cool mild Pacific Slope of Washington state (west of the Cascade Range) so your mileage may vary.
Several of us have book collections. I own the encyclopedic Bussey collection, along with “A Book of Apples” put out by the Royal Hort. Society in the UK, Tom Burford’s “Apples of North America” plus others which can help dial in the likely order of your trees & coming attractions.
Leveraction35 is in NE Pennsylvania zone 5.
My current trees… trees with (***) were ordered yesterday… if you think any of these trees are overly redundant, or simply bad choices for my area, let me know, and I will sell them or cancel the order
Ambrosia
Arkansas black
Ashmeads Kernel***
Braeburn Cox orange Pippin
E Spitzenberg***
Gold rush
Golden Russet***
Green Newtown Pippin***
Grimes golden***
Harrison
king David***
Macoun
Mutsu
Stark Scarlet crush
Sweet 16
Winter spur banana
Williams pride***
Zestar
See added list
Too many variables to pin these down in order among groups, but I can at least put 'em into three broad categories. Your neighbors & direct experience will fill in the details & help you decide if any are not worth managing. Or if some ripen for you earlier or later than this provisional list.
Early: Zestar; William’s Pride
Mostly September: Cox Orange Pippin; Macoun; Ambrosia; Scarlet Crush; Grimes Golden; Esopus Spitzenburg (which might actually serve better in…)
October: Braeburn; Sweet 16; Newtown Pippin; Mutsu; Harrison; Arkansas Black; Ashmead’s Kernel; GoldRush; Golden Russet; King David; Winter Banana
That’s a wide range of cultivars. I’ve eaten 15 of your list of 19; grown 4. Your situation differs widely from mine in far eastern Washington state, so will refrain from advising you further, except to say I think you will want to put King David in maximum sunlight.
“Adventure is out there!”
Penn State Tree Production Guide has a very good list of varieties and the month they ripen, along with bloom season. Older ones that are free pdf are available. 2024-2025 cost money to download or buy in print.
Free 2021:
William’s Pride watercores some years at maximum ripeness. Release notes mention it as has growers. That said, I got one anyway since nothing else is as good in that season.
If someone had told me early enough, I would have shortened the Ashmead’s Kernel branches to promote spur development. Otherwise it had lots of blind wood.
While we are at it, a note about influence of root stock. MM106 tends to delay ripening & winter dormancy of what stands on it, so if you want to delay an earlier or mid-season ripening cultivar, MM106 might do that.
Nigel Deacon uses MM106 freely & has Whitwick Pippin hanging on the tree into the following spring & blooming time!
I have yet to discover a stock that hastens ripening, which might be useful for really late apples. Anyone with a recommendation that way?
