Are you trying to choose the right variety of apple for your needs? There are many to choose from. There are heirloom varieties that have been around for hundreds of years and apple growers are constantly creating new varieties to meet consumer tastes and 2024 is no exception. Scroll down this page for a table of dozens of apple varieties includingphotos and their characteristics and best uses. This page has tips about harvesting and storing apples. And if you bring home some apples and want to make applesauce, apple butter,apple juice, apple pie, apple cobbler, apple crisp, even apple cider, just click the links for each to follow directions and recipes or see this page see this page for a master list of simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, such as this list of local regional and apple festivals - click on the resources dropdown above.
If you have questions or feedback, please let me know!
Notes for October 2024: Fall is here and that means apples are in full force but they will be gone fast (see this new page for Apple Orchards in your area!). Yes, apple prices are up, like they are for everything else. Some crops continue until frost, like raspberries, blackberries, figs, corn and tomatoes. Check your area's specific crop calendar (see this page) and call your local farms for seasonal updates. Click here for U.S. Apple Crop facts.
See these pages to find a local Apple festival, and other festivals. We have a guide to apple varieties and a guide to peach varieties. Also recipes, canning and freezing directions for apples, tomatoes, corn blueberries, peaches, etc.
Don't forget about pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hayrides! And we have a master guide to the all varieties of pumpkins and winter squash!
See our comprehensive list of easy home canning, jam and jelly making, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! It is easy to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. Also note, there are many copycat website listing U-pick farms now. They have all copied their information from here and usually do not ever update. Since 2002, I've been updating the information every day but Christmas; so if you see anything wrong or outdated, please write me!
Children's Consignment Sales occur in both the Spring and Fall See our companion website to find a local community or church kid's consignment sale! Our new Road Tripping website can show you where to go - and how - for the best places in every state!
2024 looks to have apples ripening on their normal schedule. There have been few late frosts in the main apple growing regions, rain and temperatures have been good, so the year is shaping up well for a good apple crop. It's too early for prices, but I expect most areas to see $14 to $30 a bushel, depending on variety! Scroll down the page to see the chart, or click here for a PDF print version. And for an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page! To see how to properly store apples for the winter, see this page!
Varieties which are exceptional for a trait are noted in the chart below (Best, very good, etc.). Varieties which are at least good and well-suited have an "X" in a column. A blank box simply means that they are average for the quality. Ultimately, it is personal preference and cultural traditions. that often determines which varieties of apples are used for which purpose. That said, sweeter and softer apples make the best applesauce (like Gala), harder, drier apples are often used for baking and storing (like Rome and Arkansas Black), and tarter, more crisp and juicier apples are often eaten fresh (like Honeycrisp). Finally, if you have an apple tree and want to know what variety it is, see this page.
If you would like to print a clean PDF version of this table, click here.
(Sorted by typical ripening date - see this page for sorted alphabetically on variety name)
Name | Ripening Date Dates are approximate and vary CONSIDERABLY with weather, location and more! |
Eating fresh | Cooking | Apple Sauce | Apple Pie | Apple Juice |
Apple Butter |
Storage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bevan's Favorite |
early July | X | ||||||
Pristine |
early July | X | X | Must Refrigerate Very sweet, juicy, does not store well, bruises easily (like Gala) | ||||
William's Pride | early July | X | X | |||||
Lodi (aka, Yellow Transparent) |
early July, even June some years | X | GOOD |
Must Refrigerate |
||||
Zestar |
mid-July to mid-August |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Should Refrigerate |
Gala | late July to early September |
Very good |
X | BEST | X | X | X | Must refrigerate; even then only keeps for a few weeks. But they are VERY sweet and flavorful, so if you are going to use it right away or make applesauce, it is excellent. |
Ginger Gold | early August to early September |
Very good |
X |
Very good |
X | X | ||
Redfree | Late July |
X |
X |
|||||
Mollies Delicious | August |
X | Must Refrigerate | |||||
Gravenstein | August |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Should Refrigerate |
Ozark Gold | Early August | X | ||||||
Grimes Golden | August | X | X | X | ||||
Jersey Mac | August | X | X | OK | ||||
Earligold |
August | X | X | X | X | Must Refrigerate | ||
Detroit Red | early , August into September | X | X | Heirloom brought from France by settlers in the Detroit area, but then later planted by Thomas Jefferson, using grafted trees of Detroit Red in the nursery at Monticello in 1805. | ||||
Akane | August | X | ||||||
Summer banana | August | X | X | |||||
PaulaRed | mid August to early September | X | X | X | X | X | ||
SweeTango | mid August to early September | X | X | X | X | |||
Empire |
mid-August through September |
X |
X |
X |
X |
A McIntosh type apple with a long shelf life. Aromatic and crisp with creamy white juicy flesh, sweet and tart |
||
McIntosh |
September | X | good | X | X | |||
Honeycrisp | September |
Very good |
X | good, but watery | X | BEST | X | |
Virginia Gold | September |
X |
X |
|||||
Jonathan | mid to late September | X | X |
Very good |
X | X | X | |
Golden Delicious | mid to late September | X | X |
Very good |
X | X | X | Should Refrigerate |
Ultra Gold | mid to late
September |
X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Cortland | mid to late
September |
X | X | X | X | X | ||
Jonalicious | mid to late
September |
X | X |
Very good |
X | X | X | Must Refrigerate |
Jonamac | mid to late September | X |
Very good |
X | ||||
Ambrosia | mid to late September | X | X | good | X | X | X | Should Refrigerate |
Red Delicious | mid to late
September |
X | good | X | Red Delicious is one of the older apple varieties, discovered as a natural variant in Peru, Iowa in 1880. It does not generally store well. Unfortunately, it has been modified and bred to the point that most people find it rather tasteless. There are at least 30 variants of Red Delicious now and you never know which one you are getting. Yellow Delicious is better, as as JonaGold, Cameo and most other apples. | |||
Envy | September | X | X | Very good | X | X | X | Envy apples are closely-related to Jazz, both are crosses between Gala and Braeburn, a trademarked variety of the Scilate apple. This is a new variety known for their crisp texture, sweetness, and balanced flavor. They are slightly larger than most apples, with a round shape, red skin and creamy yellow flesh. In 2024, they are grown in Washington state, New Zealand, and Chile. |
Jonagold | mid to late September | X |
Very good |
X | Really good all-around apple. | |||
Snowsweet | Late September, 2 weeks after HoneyCrisp |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
Good |
Jubilee | mid September
to early October |
X | X | X | X | |||
Mutsu, also called Crispin | Late September to
early October |
X | X |
Very good |
X | X | It's a good, sweet apple, like a Yellow Delicious, but stores better. | |
Keepsake | Late September to
early October |
X | X | X | ||||
Northern Spy | Late September to early October | X | X | Very good for storing | ||||
Shizuka | Late September to
early October |
X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Wild Crisp | October |
Very |
X |
good, but watery |
X |
BEST |
X |
Cross between Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink (AKA Pink Lady)Juicy, sweet, crisp, great for fresh eating or all-purpose, applesauce or in a fruit salad |
Braeburn | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | |||
Cameo | early to Mid October |
Very good |
X |
Very good |
X | X | ||
Rome | early to Mid October | X | X | |||||
Sundance | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | |||
Blushing Golden | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | X | ||
Stayman | late September |
Very good |
X |
Very good |
X | |||
Enterprise | early to Mid October | X | X | |||||
Jazz | early to Mid October | X | X |
Very good |
X | X | X | |
Melrose | early to Mid October | X | X |
Very good |
X | X | X | |
Stayman Winesap |
mid to late October |
Very good |
X |
Very good |
X | |||
Granny Smith | mid to late October | X | X | X | ||||
Macoun | mid to late October | X | X | |||||
Liberty | mid to late October | X | X | |||||
Pink Lady | mid to late October | X | X | good | X | X | X | |
Suncrisp | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | X | ||
Evercrisp | mid October until frost (November) |
Very |
X |
Very |
X |
BEST |
X |
Excellent storage due to it's parents (Fuji and Honeycrisp) |
Yates | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | Stores very well | ||
Autumn Crisp | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | |||
Fuji | mid to late October |
Very good |
X | BEST | X | X | Great keeper; stores well in garage or basement | |
Black Twig | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Arkansas Black | mid to late October | Baking | too hard | Great keeper |
Of course, each region of the country and each season varies. Variations in rainfall and temperature greatly affect the usual ripening date. So call ahead!
Click here for a PDF print version of the following list. And for the following list on a page by itself, click here.
These links take you to photos on GardenAction.co.uk
University of Illinois Apple page
Apple photos and brief descriptions
Credits:
photos:
Jonamac, Macoun, PaulaRed: Courtesy of New York Apple Association, © New York
Apple Association
And if you are looking for shipping containers for apples and other fruit, see this page.
These are my favorite essential canning tools, books and supplies. I've been using many of these for over 50 years of canning! The ones below on this page are just the sampling of. my preferred tools. but you can find much more detailed and extensive selections on the pages that are linked below.
This is THE book on canning! My grandmother used this book when I was a child.; It tells you in simple instructions how to can almost anything; complete with recipes for jam, jellies, pickles, sauces, canning vegetables, meats, etc.
If it can be canned, this book likely tells you how! Click on the link below for more information and / or to buy (no obligation to buy)The New Ball Blue Book of Canning and Preserving
Canning and Preserving for Dummies by Karen Ward
This is another popular canning book. Click here for more information, reviews, prices for Canning and Preserving For Dummies
Of course, you do not need to buy ANY canning book as I have about 500 canning, freezing, dehydrating and more recipes all online for free, just see Easy Home Canning Directions.
I have several canners, and my favorite is the stainless steel one at right. It is easy to clean and seems like it will last forever. Mine is 10 years old and looks like new.
The black ones are the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce.
This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, Jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. It's only missing the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book.
You will never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)!
The complete list of canners is on these pages:
If you plan on canning non-acidic foods and low acid foods that are not pickled - this means: meats, seafood, soups, green beans corn, most vegetables, etc., then you ABSOLUTELY must use a Pressure Canner.
Of course, you can use a pressure canner as a water bath canner as well - just don't seal it up, so it does not pressurize. This means a Pressure Canner is a 2-in-1 device. With it, you can can almost ANYTHING.
There are also other supplies, accessories, tools and more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!
From left to right:
These are very useful for making sauces like applesauce, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, jellies, etc. Below are my favorites. The complete list is on these pages:
This is The next step up from the Foley food mill. First, it's far more ergonomic, and its handle is easier to use. Next, it works in continuous mode rather than batch mode. So you can do much larger volumes easily. Finally, It has an optional motor, so you can. remove the manual labor. It also offers many different size strainers to use for different types of berries, vegetables and fruit.
See the seller's website for more information, features, pricing and user reviews!
If you're going to do large volumes of fruit or vegetables , or do it year after year, then. you really should think about getting a higher end kitchen. utility device. Kitchen aids are the cream of the crop. Once you buy one of these, you keep at the rest of your life and it gets handed down to the next generation. . My sister is using one she inherited from my mother 25 years ago, who got it in the 1940s as a wedding gift. So, although the initial cost is high, they literally last for many lifetime. So the cost on an annual basis is pretty trivial, especially when you consider the cost of therapy and treatment for. the repetitive strain injuries you will get from manual cranking day after day. Add to that of course the cost of therapy for the emotional injuries you'll get from going insane, standing there hand cranking something for hours.
KitchenAid's with a sieve/grinder (with the attachments, costs about $400, but it lasts a lifetime and is fast and easy to use - I can make 100 quart jars of applesauce per day with one of these).
Don't spend money on books. that you don't need to. Almost everything you can find in some book sold online or in a store is on my website here for free. Start with theEasy Home Canning Directions below. That is a master list of canning directions which are all based upon the Ball Bblue book, the National Center for Home Food Preservation and other reputable lab tested recipes. Almost every recipe I present in addition to being lab tested com. is in a step by step format with photos for each step and complete. explanations. that tell you how to do it, where to get the supplies and pretty much everything you need to know. In addition, there almost always in a PDF format so you can print them out and use them while you cook.
[ Easy Home Canning Directions]
[FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems]
[Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!]
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set