Find a local pick your own farm here!

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!

What's in season in March 2024, and other timely information:

Notes for March 2024: Summer is almost over and that means apples are here (see this new page for Apple Orchards in your area!), and except in northern areas, peaches and blueberries are finished. 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.

See these pages to find a local Apple festival, and other festivals. We have a extensive guide to apple varieties and a guide to peach varieties. Also recipes, canning and freezing directions for apples, tomatoes, corn blueberries, peaches, etc.

And don't forget CORN MAZES are open now - find a local maze here.

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. The worst is the one that stole our name but ends with .farm.  (Yes, I've got lawyers on it)  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 are a great way to save money on clothes, toys, books, etc, They occur in both the Spring and Fall See our companion website to find a local community or church kid's consignment sale!

Apple varieties Alphabetical Chart - which apple to pick and why!

Apples are ripening a bit early 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 $18 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:

  1. Gala
  2. Red Delicious
  3. Fuji
  4. Granny Smith
  5. Honeycrisp
  6. Golden Delicious
  7. McIntosh
  8. Pink Lady
  9. Braeburn
  10. Ambrosia

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.

Apple Varieties Guide - Which Apple to Pick and Why!

If you would like to print a clean PDF version of this table, click here.

Summary Table (click here for the detailed guide)

(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
Dates are approximate and vary CONSIDERABLY
with weather, location and more!

Eating fresh

Cooking

Apple Sauce

Apple Pie

Apple Juice

Apple
Butter

Notes and Storage Tips

Arkane appleAkane

August

X

ambrosia appleAmbrosia

mid to late
September

X

X

good

X

X

X

Should Refrigerate. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

Arkansas Black appleArkansas Black

mid to late
October

Baking

too hard

Great keeper

Ashmead Kernal appleAshmead Kernal

late September into October

X

X

Autumn crispAutumn crisp October

X

X

good

X

X

X

Cross of Golden Delicious and Monroe. Flesh resists browning

BaldwinBaldwin

late mid-season

X

X

X

Bevan's favoriteBevan's Favorite

early July X

Black Twig appleBlack Twig

mid to late
October

X

X

X

X

X

X

Blondee appleBlondee October

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Yellow skin with slight russeting at the stem and scattered tan-colored pores. It has a unique sweet-tart flavor, with a crisp & juicy white flesh. Excellent for eating fresh and for cooking in your favorite recipe

Blushing Golden appleBlushing Golden

early to
Mid October

X

X

X

X

X

Braeburn appleBraeburn

early to
Mid October

X

X

X

X

Good all-purpose apple

Cameo appleCameo

early to
Mid October

Very
good

X

Very
good

X

X

Excellent flavor, Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

Candy CrispCandyCrisp Early October (South), November (North)

X

X

good

X

X

X

cortland_appleCortland

mid to late
September

X

X

X

X

X

Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

Cosmic crisp appleCosmic Crisp mid to late
September

X

X

Excellent

X

X

X

Cosmic Crisp is a cross between Honeycrisp and Enterprise apples, Storage is very good,

High in both sugar and acidity, making it as good overall or better than Red Delicious, Gala and Fuji
(The variety has its own Cosmic Crisp website)

Cox's Orange Pippin Cox's Orange Pippin

early season (August)

X

X

good

Crimson Crisp appleCrimson Crisp

mid to Late Season (September)

Crispin apple, also called MutsuCrispin (aka, /Mutsu)

Mid - late season

Very
good

X

good, but watery

X

BEST

X

Davey apple Davey mid to Late Season (September)   

good, but watery

This is a McIntosh-type apple, sweet-tart, very juicy and crunchy. It is a better keeper than the McIntosh. 
Detroit red appleDetroit 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.

Earligold appleEarligold

August

X

X

X

X

Must Refrigerate

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. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

Enterprise appleEnterprise

early to
Mid October

X

X

Evercrisp appleEvercrisp Mid October through November

Very
good

X

Very
Good

X

BEST

X

Excellent storage due to it's parents (Fuji and Honeycrisp)

fuji_appleFuji

mid to late
October

Very
good

X

BEST

X

X

Excellent all purpose apple, with sweet aromatic flavor, Great keeper; stores well in garage or basement

Gala appleGala

mid August to
early September

Very
good

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)

Ginger Gold appleGinger Gold

August

Very
good

X

Very
good

X

X

Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

golden_delicious_appleGolden Delicious

mid to late
September

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Very sweet, mild flavor, Should Refrigerate

golden_delicious_appleGoldrush

mid to late
September

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Tart, strong aroma flavor, should Refrigerate. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

grannysmith_appleGranny Smith

mid to late
October

X

X

X

Very tart almost sour apple

Gravenstein appleGravenstein August

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Should Refrigerate

Grimes Golden appleGrimes Golden August X X X

Hokuto appleHokuto

late mid-season (late September)

Very
good

X

BEST

X

X

Excellent all purpose apple, with sweet aromatic flavor, good keeper;

Honeycrisp appleHoneycrisp

September

Very
good

X

good, but watery

X

BEST

X

Sweet, crisp apple. Storage is good, not great

Idared appleIdared October

X

X

X

Jazz appleJazz

early to
Mid October

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Newer variety, sweet, juicy

Jersey Mac appleJersey Mac

August

X

X

OK

Jonagold_appleJonagold

mid to late
September

X

Very
good

X

OK storage, great all purpose apple.

JonaliciousJonalicious

mid to late
September

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Must Refrigerate, very sweet.

Jonamac apple Jonamac

mid to late
September

X

Very
good

X

OK

Jonathon_appleJonathan

mid to late
September

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

OK

JubiuleeJubilee

mid September
to early October

X

X

X

X

Stores well - it is an earlier version of Fuji

keepsake appleKeepsake

Late September to
early October

X

X

X

Liberty appleLiberty

mid to late
October

X

X

Lodi appleLodi

Mid July

X

GOOD

Must Refrigerate

Macoun appleMacoun

mid to late
October

X

X

McIntosh appleMcIntosh

September

X

good

X

X

melrose_appleMelrose

early to
Mid October

X

X

Very
good

X

X

X

Mollies_delicious appleMollies Delicious


August

X

Must Refrigerate

Mutsu, aka Crispin appleMutsu, also called Crispin

Late September to
early October

X

X

Very
good

X

X

Northern Spy appleNorthern Spy

Late September to
early October

X

X

Very good for storing

Opal appleOpal

mid to late
October

X

X

X

Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)
Dense, crisp, cream-colored flesh with a sweet taste and a slightly tart finish.
The taste has been compared to the Honeycrisp, with hints of pear, coconut, and banana

Ozark goldOzark Gold Early August   X          

Paula Red applePaulaRed

mid August to
early September

X

X

X

X

X

Pink Lady applePink Lady

mid to late
October

X

X

good

X

X

X

Pink Pearl applePink Pearl   Mid- August  good        Tart but sweet. Firm.
Pristine applePristine early July

X

X

good

Very sweet, juicy, does not store well, bruises easily (like Gala)

red_delicious_appleRed Delicious

mid to late
September

X

good

X

RedfreeRedfree Late-July

X

X

Firm flesh and can be held in storage up to 2 months without loss of quality or firmness.

Rome appleRome

early to
Mid October

X

X

RubyFrost appleRubyFrost

Late season, ripens later in the fall

X

Sansa appleSansa

X

Not a great keeper
September Wonder appleSeptember Wonder  mid-September        Sweet older variety, dates back to Washington State, 1902 

ShizukaShizuka

Late September to
early October

X

X

X

X

X

X

Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

Snowsweet appleSnowsweet Late September, 2 weeks after HoneyCrisp

X

X

X

X

X

Good storer. Does not brown when sliced (see this page for more info)

StaymanStayman

Early September

X

Stayman Winesap appleStayman Winesap

mid to late
October

X

X

good

X

Strawberry appleStrawberry Early September

X

X

X

X

X

X

OK for storage. Also called the Chenango Strawberry apple
summer banana appleSummer banana mid-August

X

X

heirloom, when fully ripe has the faint smell of bananas

Suncrisp appleSuncrisp

mid to late
October

X

X

X

X

X

Sundance appleSundance

early to
Mid October

X

X

X

X

SweeTango appleSweeTango

mid August to
early September

X

X

X

X

Ultra GoldUltra Gold

mid to late
September

X

X

X

X

X

X

Virginia Gold appleVirginia Gold Late-September

X

X

Also good for apple cider
Vista Belle appleVista Belle July X X X X X X Crisp, tart and remarkably rich-flavored apple,
does NOT store well
Wild crisp appleWild Crisp October

Very
good

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
\William's Pride appleWilliam's Pride Early-July

X

X

Winesap appleWinesap

late-season

X

All-purpose apple

Yates appleYates

mid to late
October

X

X

X

X

Stores very well

York appleYork

X

X

Zestar appleZestar mid-July to mid-August

X

X

X

X

X

X

Should Refrigerate

Click here for detailed descriptions of each apple variety with detailed characteristics

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!

English Apple Varieties

These links take you to photos on GardenAction.co.uk

More about apple varieties can be found:

University of Illinois Apple page

Michigan 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.

Canning Books, Supplies and Accessories

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.

The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving: Over 350 of the Best Canned, Jammed, Pickled, and Preserved Recipes Paperback

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.

Home Canning Kits


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:

 

Pressure Canners

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!

Basic Canning Accessories

From left to right:

  1. Jar lifting tongs to pick up hot jars
  2. Lid lifter - to remove lids from the pot of boiling water (sterilizing )
  3. Lids- disposable - you may only use them once
  4. Ring - holds the lids on the jar until after the jars cool - then you remove them, save them and reuse them
  5. Canning Jar funnel - to fill the jars

Strainers

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:

Inexpensive Old School Strainers: hand cranked Foley Food Mills

  • The hand-cranked Foley food mill (see this page or clock the ad box) has been used for well over 100 years in homes all over America (and variants around the world). It is effective and inexpensive, and ideal for small batches.  However, if you need to make many quarts, you will sure end up with tunnel carpel syndrome or some other repetitive strain injury.

Norpro 1951 Manual Food Strainer and other brand stariners, with optional motors; (almost identical to Victorio V250, Villaware and Roma models, all discontinued)

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!

KitchenAid - Best Large Volume Strainers

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).

 

FREE Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

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!]

[Free canning publications to download and print]

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