Dorsett Golden apple
A remarkable early-season apple, well-adapted to tropical climates and with a very low chill requirement.
Dorsett Golden was raised by Mrs Dorsett in The Bahamas in the 1950s. It is one of a very small group of apple varieties that can flourish in tropical climates, because of its exceptionally low chilling requirement of less than 300 hours. Researchers at the University of Florida have even observed Dorsett Golden growing as an evergreen, i.e. with no dormant period although it does not fruit properly when this happens.
Dorsett Golden flowers in southern Calfornia in January and late February in Florida, far ahead of most varieties, so pollination is a potential issue. It is a natural partner for another low-chill variety, Anna which is also descended from Golden Delicious, and each will pollinate the other.
The apples ripen late June / early July in southern California. Like most early season varieties the apples do not keep, however the flesh is lightly crisp and with a good flavor - far better than might be expected from an early season hot climate apple. Flavor is apparently better in apples which are slightly shaded (the reverse of what is normally recommended for cool climate apples).
Dorsett Golden trees are extremely precocious and will start fruiting in their second year.
Whilst there is no disputing that this variety was raised in The Bahamas as a chance seedling, some authorities have questioned whether it is a seedling of Golden Delicious, suggesting it may instead be from an Israeli breeding programme at the Ein Shemer kibbutz. However that programme also featured Golden Delicious, so the obvious similarity with Golden Delicious is probably explained by a close relationship either as a parent or grandparent.
We are grateful to Kevin Hauser for information and photos of this variety.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Probably a seedling of Golden Delicious
- Origin: Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas
- Introduced: 1954
- Developed by: Mrs Dorsett
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 159200
Identification
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Gold
- Fruit size: Large Large if thinned.
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style: Sweeter
- Ripening period: Early season
- Use / keeping: 1-3 days
Growing
- Cropping: Heavy
- Flowering period: Extremely early
- Flowering group: 0 Flowers exceptionally early - January in southern California, usually grown alongside Anna.
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Vigour: Average growth
- Precocity: Precocious
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
Climate
- Suitable for warm climates
- Low-chill requirement Fruits readily with 300 hours or less.
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Golden Delicious (parent) - Golden Delicious is probably the parent, or possibly grand-parent of Dorsett Golden.
See also:
- Anna - Anna and Dorsett Golden are natural partners, being the only varieties which flower so early in the season.
Dorsett Golden identification photos from official fruit collections
Dorsett Golden identification photos from website visitors
Copyright: Kevin Hauser
Copyright: Kevin Hauser
Copyright: Kevin Hauser
Copyright: Kevin Hauser
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 Dorsett Golden 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
- Avary in LA MESA, CA
- Darren Peters in ROCK SPRING, Georgia
- Randy in BAXLEY, GA
- Ronny Blackstock in FITZGERALD, GA
- Ryan in POWAY, CALIFORNIA
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2012 season
- 28th January 2012 - tree owned by Avary in LA MESA, United States
2011 season
- March 2011 - tree owned by Randy in BAXLEY, United States
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2012 season
2011 season
- 2nd week June 2011 - tree owned by Randy in BAXLEY, United States
Mature heights for Dorsett Golden trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Dorsett Golden 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 | 2.5 ft 0.8 m |
3.1 ft 0.9 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.6 ft 1.4 m |
5.5 ft 1.7 m |
| M27 | 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 |
| M9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Geneva 16 | 4.9 ft 1.5 m |
6.1 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
9.2 ft 2.8 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
| M26 | 5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.6 ft 2.0 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
| Geneva 30 | 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 |
| MM102 | 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 |
| M7 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
14.2 ft 4.3 m |
| M116 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
14.2 ft 4.3 m |
| MM106 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
| MM111 | 8.1 ft 2.5 m |
10.1 ft 3.1 m |
12.1 ft 3.7 m |
15.1 ft 4.6 m |
18.1 ft 5.6 m |
| Bud.118 | 9.1 ft 2.8 m |
11.4 ft 3.5 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
17.1 ft 5.2 m |
20.5 ft 6.3 m |
| M25 | 10.2 ft 3.1 m |
12.7 ft 3.9 m |
15.2 ft 4.7 m |
19.0 ft 5.8 m |
22.8 ft 7.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
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