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 2021 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 March 2021: Crop growth is slowing down, except for Christmas tree farms and if you live in southern California, southern Texas, Florida or along the Gulf coast where citrus are ripe, and believe it or not, the blueberry and strawberry season in those areas is about to begin. See your state harvest calendar . This year, much of the country is still seeing mild weather, so lettuce, peas, broccoli, cabbage and other greens are thriving. And this is a good time to get a canner and learn how to preserve foods for the winter, like canning some applesauce, apple butter or jam, which make great gifts. As do your own homemade specialty liqueurs! How about homemade cranberry sauce or a pumpkin pie made from a real pumpkin for the holidays? 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. A fun winter activity is to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me!
Valentine's Day - February 14 - See this website for Valentines Day history, facts and Amazon's top picks for fast, easy, inexpensive gifts for the man, woman or children in your life!
Easter will be April 4, 2021 - if you want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt!
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!
Apples are ripening on their normal schedule this year. 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).
The U.S. Apple Organization tells us the most popular (by sales) fresh apple varieties are, in order:
Honeycrisp and Pink Lady continue to move up the chart, and Red Delicious is moving down. More heirloom varieties are being grown as sp[ecialty crops, and of course, every year sees some new varieties, most notably, those that resist browning when cut, like Ginger Gold and SnowSweet.
If you would like to print a clean PDF version of this table, click here.
(Sorted alphabetically on variety name; see this page for a sort by typical ripening date)
Blank means OK or average. Note: all apples should be stored in the fridge; those noted below as needing refrigeration are exceptionally quick to spoil in not refrigerated.
Name |
Typical Ripening Date |
Eating fresh |
Cooking |
Notes and Storage Tips |
||||
|
August |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
good |
X |
X |
X |
Should Refrigerate. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
mid to late |
|
Baking |
too hard |
|
|
|
Great keeper |
|
late September into October |
X |
X |
|
||||
![]() |
October |
X |
X |
good |
X |
X |
X |
Cross of Golden Delicious and Monroe. Flesh resists browning |
|
late mid-season |
X |
X |
X |
|
|||
|
early July | X | ||||||
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
early to |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
early to |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Good all-purpose apple |
|
early to |
Very |
X |
Very |
X |
|
X |
Excellent flavor, Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
![]() |
Early October |
X |
X |
good |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
mid to late |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
early season (August) |
X |
X |
good |
||||
|
mid to Late Season (September) | |||||||
|
Mid - late season |
Very |
X |
good, but watery |
X |
BEST |
X |
|
|
August |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Must Refrigerate |
|
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. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
||
|
early to |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
Mid October through November |
Very |
X |
Very |
X |
BEST |
X |
Excellent storage due to it's parents (Fuji and Honeycrisp) |
|
mid to late |
Very |
X |
BEST |
X |
|
X |
Excellent all purpose apple, with sweet aromatic flavor, Great keeper; stores well in garage or basement |
|
mid August to |
Very |
X |
BEST |
X |
X |
X |
Very sweet, excellent flavor, Must refrigerate; even then only keeps for a few weeks. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
August |
Very |
X |
Very |
X |
|
X |
Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Very sweet, mild flavor, Should Refrigerate |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Tart, strong aroma flavor, should Refrigerate. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
|
Very tart almost sour apple |
![]() |
August |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Should Refrigerate |
![]() |
August | X | X | X | ||||
|
late mid-season (late September) |
Very |
X |
BEST |
X |
|
X |
Excellent all purpose apple, with sweet aromatic flavor, good keeper; |
|
September |
Very |
X |
good, but watery |
X |
BEST |
X |
Sweet, crisp apple. Storage is good, not great |
![]() |
October |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
early to |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Newer variety, sweet, juicy |
|
August |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
OK |
|
mid to late |
X |
|
Very |
|
X |
|
OK storage, great all purpose apple. |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
Must Refrigerate, very sweet. |
![]() |
mid to late |
X |
|
Very |
|
X |
|
OK |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
OK |
|
mid September |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Stores well - it is an earlier version of Fuji |
|
Late September to
|
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mid July |
X |
|
GOOD |
|
|
|
Must Refrigerate
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
September |
X |
|
good |
|
X |
X |
|
|
early to |
X |
X |
Very |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Must Refrigerate |
|
Late September to
|
X |
X |
Very |
X |
|
X |
|
|
Late September to
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Very good for storing |
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
|
Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
mid August to |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
good |
X |
X |
X |
|
![]() |
early July |
X |
X |
good |
Very sweet, juicy, does not store well, bruises easily (like Gala) | |||
|
mid to late |
X |
|
good |
|
|
X |
|
![]() |
Late-July |
X |
X |
Firm flesh and can be held in storage up to 2 months without loss of quality or firmness. | ||||
|
early to |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Late season, ripens later in the fall |
X |
|
|||||
|
X |
|
Not a great keeper | |||||
|
Late September to
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
![]() |
Late September, 2 weeks after HoneyCrisp |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
Good storer. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info) |
|
Early September |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
good |
|
X |
|
|
![]() |
Early September |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
OK |
![]() |
mid-August |
X |
X |
heirloom, when fully ripe has the faint smell of bananas | ||||
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
early to |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
mid August to |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
|
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
![]() |
Late-September |
X |
X |
Also good for apple cider | ||||
![]() |
Early-July |
X |
X |
|||||
|
late-season |
X |
All-purpose apple | |||||
|
mid to late |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
Stores very well |
|
X |
X |
||||||
![]() |
mid-July to mid-August |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Should Refrigerate |
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!
These links take you to photos on GardenAction.co.uk
University of Illinois Apple page
Apple Photos
Over 100 photos of apple varieties
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.
Home Canning KitsThis is 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, and the bible of canning, the Ball
Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll
never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)!
There is also a simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a pressure canner, if you want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see
more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here! |
Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.Need lids, rings and replacement jars? Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes? Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store!
Get them all here at the best prices on the internet! |
The Presto Pressure
canners are out
of stock, but Tfal's
are available!
Above is the
2020 version of
the Ball Blue Book