Golden Russet

Good Apple Info Snapshot:

A prized American heirloom for fresh eating and cider. Golden Russet doesn’t seem the thrive in our no-spray environment, but if you’re willing to work with it and/or have a spray program in place, it’s an apple to consider.

Worth noting that most Russet apples seem to have higher disease susceptibility. So, if you want a nice russet apple in your orchard, you’re gonna have to pick and choose your battle.

Good Apple Info Difficulty Rating:

Medium – While supposedly resistant to CAR and Scab, Golden Russet has some susceptibility to fireblight.

Tree Habit:

Vigorous, productive, and a reliable annual cropper. Tip bearer.

Apple Color:

Russeted bronze over greenish gold and speckled with white lenticels. Creamy, dense flesh, yielding a rich, aromatic juice that is high in sugar and acid and low in tannin..

Size:

Medium.

Flavor:

subacid – sharp, intense, nutty, honeyed sweetness.

Bloom:

Start Main Season

Ripe:

Early November

History:

The Golden Russet was prized as the “champagne” of old-time cider apples. Discovered in New York State between the years 1800 and 1849 from a seedling of an English russet apple cultivar. Some suggest it may be offspring of Ashmead’s Kernel.

Storage:

well, 3+ months.

Uses:

Fresh eating, cider, baking, drying, storage.