![]() Gala apples are a relative newcomer, developed in New Zealand in the 1930's. It's skin is on the tough side, but it's considered great for both fresh eating and cooking. It also bears over a period of several weeks, rather than all at once, like some early varieties.ĬFO, ACW, BHC, GN, TA (as Red June) Chenango Strawberryĭating to the mid-1800's, Chanango Strawberry has an aromatic flavor profile that can be reminiscent of strawberries. One thing I liked about this variety is that it's supposed to do very well on a variety of soil types, and blooms a bit on the late side - which can be a benefit for ensuring a good crop in northern growing zones. Originating n North Carolina, sometime before 1800, this apple is loved for both its cooking quality as well as eating fresh out of hand. This one is definitely on my list for for adding to the home orchard! ![]() Known for its consistent good looks, fabulous flavor, and productivity, it's also categorized as juicy and crisp, but fine-grained. It grows particularly well in the south, and while its exact origins are unclear it seems to be agreed that it's a fairly ancient English version that was used for both cider and fresh eating.įirst described in 1859, Bevan's favorite is an all-around winner. This is one of those varieties that has been known my many different monikers, including Sops of Wine, Sips n Wine, Bell's Favorite, and Hominy. PCFO, BHC, GN Bell’s Favorite (Sops of Wine) The fabulous website Orange Pippin is one of the best online resources for finding information about heritage apple varieties, and it describes American Summer Pearmain as an "excellent early eating apple, also good for cooking." This variety dates back to the early 1800's. Grandpa’s, GN, TA American Summer Pearmain Like so many of the early varieties, it's not much of a keeper, but it's wonderful fresh, and dries nicely. Introduced in 1937, Akane is an excellent, sweet early apple. At the bottom of this post is a list of the sources I refer to, the codes I've used to identify them, and their websites.ģ0 apples that ripen in August (and where to order them!) Akane To keep the list uncluttered, I've used abbreviations. Check out these incredible early apple varieties!īeneath each variety's description, you'll see that I've listed where you can order it. And all are available for mail order from at least one reputable heirloom orchard. All of these are said to ripen in August, or even earlier in the south. So I've been researching like crazy, and had to share some of best early apple cultivars that have made my "short" list. I'm really blessed that of the 5 apple trees currently bearing on our property, this one starts the season super early, and another is so late that I have to pry the apples from the tree before the first freeze, and let them finish ripening in storage.Īs we keep adding to our little home orchard, I'm on the lookout for a few more amazing early apple varieties. There are great apple varieties that really do kick off the season so early I'm still harvesting snow peas. I've also met a quite a number of folks from "down the way" under the shade of that tree. And most of the crop is perfectly ripe by the third week of August. It's hands-down the best fresh-eating apple I've ever tasted. But the next summer, every word proved true. I'd never heard of an apple ripening in August before, and I'm embarrassed to say I chalked a lot of that conversation up to sentimental exaggeration. That's a way you'll meet alllll the neighbors!" People you forgot you ever knew will stop by every August with a bag, just to chat and hope you'll send them away with a bunch of apples. "That tree" he said, "has the BEST apples you'll ever taste anywhere. On one of my last visits to the house before moving day, the husband stopped and pointed to a huge old apple tree growing in the middle of a stone wall. So before passing on the keys, they also endowed us with a treasure trove of tips, tricks, special bits of trivia, and wisdom from a lifetime of homesteading on this windy little mountainside in Maine. They'd even created our amazing stone fireplace and chimney by hand, with rocks they'd excavated right here on the property. When we bought our house a few years ago, we purchased it from a sweet older couple that had built the home themselves, and raised their family here.
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