The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Golden Russet apple

Golden Russet is usually considered as one of the best-flavored of the American russet apples.

Golden Russet photo tape

Golden Russet is a small moderately attractive apple, which keeps well, and is very versatile for eating, cooking or juicing.  The flavor is typical of a russet apple but rather more intense than the traditional English St. Edmunds Russet or Egremont Russet - more similar to Ashmeads Kernel.

The origins of Golden Russet are not clear but it arose in upstate New York in the 19th century, possibly derived from an English russet variety.  The flavor and slightly flattened shape suggest a connection with to Ashmeads Kernel, which has always been grown in the USA.  However there is also a variety with the name Golden Russet in England, described by the English Pomologist Robert Hogg in the late 19th century.  His description of the apple and its qualities are very similar to the American Golden Russet, yet he makes no mention of it being grown in the USA, even though he was aware of and described many other American varieties.

For a time Golden Russet was grown on a commercial basis but then fell out of fashion.  It has enjoyed a resurgence of interest because the strong-flavored juice is ideal for cider and hard cider production.

Last updated 02 Jan 2011.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Thought to be a seedling of an English russet variety
  • Origin: New York state, United States
  • Introduced: 1845
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 158600

Identification

  • Fruit colour: Yellow / Gold
  • Fruit size: Small
  • Bultitude apple group: 8. Russeted, sweet

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Good for juice
  • Good for hard cider
  • Cooking result: Keeps shape
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style: Sweeter
  • Ripening period: Late season
  • Use / keeping: 3 months or more

Growing

  • Cropping: Good
  • Flowering period: Early-Mid season
  • Flowering group: 2
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No
  • Vigour: Slightly large
  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Fruit bearing: Tip-bearer

Climate

  • Suitable for temperate climates
  • Tolerates cold winters

Disease resistance

  • Scab  - Some resistance
  • Cedar apple rust  - Some susceptibility

See also:

Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 5.0 out of 5. Total votes cast: 5
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

12 Oct 2011 WillMA, United States
This variety is delicious:I wish people knew more than the handful of varieties sold at the supermarket. To say they're missing out is an understatement.
23 Sep 2011 MikePA, United States
Thanks for the 31 Aug post. Once I get mine in the ground March 2012, will watch of signs of flowers and start spraying with Bordeaux spray before and while it flowers. Had the same issue with my Calville Blanc this year but sprayed and made it through the summer with additional healthy growth.
31 Aug 2011 Patrick sVA, United States
Tried growing one here in VA and it got fireblight the first time it bloomed and wiped it out in what seemed like days. Tasty apple, though.
09 Aug 2011 AlanMA, United States
One of my favorite apples. A very dense apple with an amazingly intense sweet-tart flavor. The apples tend to be small. Hard to find, but worth the effort.
09 Mar 2011 Dave LiezenWA, United States
I located some of these apple about 200 miles from my home (along with others) and tasted them. Golden Russet is a revelation! I typically prefer a tart apple; this has become my favorite sweet apple. Will find a way to graft this into one of my trees at home.

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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 Golden Russet 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

Canada



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2012 season

  • 5th May  2012  - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
  • 3rd May  2012  - tree owned by Mike in GLEN ROCK, United States
  • 26th March  2012  - tree owned by Ryan in CUMMING, United States

2011 season

  • May  2011  - tree owned by v in LUCKNOW, Canada
  • May  2011  - tree owned by Ron in ORION, United States

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.

Latest harvest records for this variety

2012 season

    2011 season

    • 1st week October  2011  - tree owned by v in LUCKNOW, Canada

Mature heights for Golden Russet trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Golden Russet 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 Golden Russet apple trees for sale:

Where to buy apples

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