Beacon apple
Beacon is a bright red early-season apple with a soft flesh, noted for its cold hardiness.
Beacon was one of the first apples released by the University of Minnesota, which has become a leading center for the development of apple varieties able to withstand extreme winter cold. Beacon is cold-hardy down to USDA Zone 3.
It is an attractive red apple, and useful as one of the few cold-hardy early-season apples. However the flavor is indifferent.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Malinda x Wealthy
- Origin: Minnesota, United States
- Introduced: 1936
- Developed by: Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (University of Minnesota)
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 123000
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sharper
- Ripening period: Early season
- Use / keeping: 1 week
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid-Late season
- Flowering group: 4
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Slightly large
- Gardening skill: Very easy
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
Disease resistance
- Fireblight - Very susceptible
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Beacon trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United States
- Rory Mcgregor in MAPLETON,, MN
United Kingdom
- Dr Mairi Rennie in PETERSFIELD, WEST SUSSEX
Mature heights for Beacon trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Beacon tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
| M27 | 3.2 ft 1.0 m |
4.0 ft 1.2 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| M9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 16 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M26 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
| Geneva 30 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| MM102 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| M7 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| M116 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| MM106 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
| MM111 | 9.2 ft 2.8 m |
11.5 ft 3.5 m |
13.8 ft 4.2 m |
17.3 ft 5.3 m |
20.7 ft 6.3 m |
| Bud.118 | 10.4 ft 3.2 m |
13.0 ft 4.0 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
19.5 ft 6.0 m |
23.4 ft 7.2 m |
| M25 | 11.6 ft 3.6 m |
14.5 ft 4.4 m |
17.4 ft 5.3 m |
21.8 ft 6.7 m |
26.1 ft 8.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Beacon apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
United States Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
United Statesmap >
-
Iowamap >
- Appleberry Orchard, Donnellson
- Gary Tedore Orchard, La Porte City
-
Massachusettsmap >
- Brook Farm Orchard, Ashfield
-
Minnesotamap >
- Aamodt's Apple Farm and Bakery, Stillwater
- Apple Shack, Hutchinson
- Dassel Hillside Farm, Dassel
- Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard, Hastings
- J.Q. Fruit Farm, Princeton
- Montgomery Orchards, Montgomery
- Sogn Valley Orchard, Dennison
- Southwind Orchards, Dakota
- Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley
-
Pennsylvaniamap >
-
South Dakotamap >
- Krause Family Orchard & Nursery Inc., Glenham
Rate this variety for flavor