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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Melrose apple

Malus domestica
Melrose
Official Ohio State apple. Large flattened fruit. Yellowish green skin flushed and streaked dark red with russet spots. Firm, coarse, juicy creamy white flesh. Slightly acid flavor. Very good cooking and dessert qualities. Best after Christmas when it develops it's fruity aroma.

Melrose apple identification images

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  • Melrose
  • Melrose
  • Melrose

USDA identification images for Melrose

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Parents and other ancestors of this variety


    Offspring of this variety


    Visitor reviews

    • 30 Nov 2015  France
      My favourite apple, raw or cooked. Not so easy to find in French stores, but it's now cultivated by my local organic apple-grower, so made ample provision for the winter. I had no idea this cultivar was of US origin. Thanks to this site for the great information!
    • 27 Sep 2015  OHIO, United States
      Just picked from my favorite Orchard (Branstool Orchard Utica Ohio) on Sept 26th. It's a little early, but it's been a good year and they are sweet/tart with those lovely Pineapple notes that I enjoy so much from Melrose. I like to eat them fresh, but they are also wonderful when cored and baked for dessert with butter and cinnamon or with homemade caramel inside. The early ones are pretty good in pies as well.
    • 04 Oct 2013  WISCONSIN, United States
      While shopping at our local nursery I came upon the Melrose apple tree. I thought it would be a great way to remember my mother, Rose, who had past away. This apple is a perfect combination of sweet and tart in taste, the flesh has a medium firmness, so eat, bake , or can it. I may try wine making this year! My mom ate a apple everyday, and made the best pies. 5/5 just heavenly!
    • 06 Jan 2013  OHIO, United States
      Somewhat tart apple . Needs to be pruned and apples thinned out to produce good apples. Grows very fast.
    • 26 Nov 2012  NORTHUMBERLAND, United Kingdom
      The variety was unknown to us when bought from a market stall in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Looked an appetizing colour and had a pleasant, reasonably sharp taste. Will now probably seek to buy a small tree.
    • 21 Oct 2012  OHIO, United States
      First time user. Bought at a local orchard. Made pies,used an old style peeler and corer,and slices were thin. We don't care for tart pie apples ,too much sugar needs to be used to make them palatable so we tried these. The apple flavor comes through, great texture. We already bought more and have them sliced and in the freezer. I'll be planting a few them in my small orchard.
    • 09 Jun 2012  KENT, United Kingdom
      We have a smallish orchard of these (30+ on mid rootstock) and whereas they are huge fruiters the initial flavour (UK spelling!) is insipid without good sun, the flavour develops into the autumn though. We juice 80% of our and the trick is to pick then wait before processing.
    • 21 Aug 2011  WA, United States
      This is one of my favorite apples. It has the crispy characteristics of the Jonathon. The flavor tends to lean toward the Red Delicious. If you like a more tart apple, start eating this variety at the end of September. It is good for pie at this time. If you lean toward the sweeter characteristics, wait until late November when it becomes a good eating apple and a good apple for cider. This apple will stay on the tree for a long time. You can harvest it during a three month period for different reasons.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    France

    Portugal

    Canada

    Bulgaria

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2016 season

    • 20th March  2016  - tree owned by Bruce in Albuquerque, United States

    2015 season

    • April  2015  - tree owned by J. in Elmira, United States

    2014 season

    • 15th April  2014  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom
    • March  2014  - tree owned by Danny in Phoenix, United States

    2013 season

    • 10th May  2013  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 6th May  2012  - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
    • 10th April  2012  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • May  2010  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • May  2009  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2015 season

    • 3rd week October  2015  - tree owned by Peter in Hexham, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • September  2013  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • September  2012  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 2nd week October  2011  - tree owned by Carolina in Vashon, United States

    2010 season

    • 2nd week October  2010  - tree owned by Carolina in Vashon, United States
    • 3rd week August  2010  - tree owned by Pip in Rye, United Kingdom

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Jonathan x Red Delicious
    • Originates from: United States
    • Introduced: 1944
    • Developed by: Freeman S. Howlett, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United States
    • Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
    • Fruit colour: Red - dark
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Flowering duration: Average (2-3 weeks)
    • Flesh colour: Cream
    • Fruit size: Average
    • Alleles: 9
    • Alleles: 28

    Using

    • Picking season: Late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Cropping: Heavy
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Picking month: October
    • Picking period: mid-October
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Vigorous
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
    • Growth habit: Upright-spreading / Vase

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 4 (-34C)
    • Chill requirement: High-chill
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Average
    • Cedar apple rust: Some resistance
    • Canker: Some susceptibility
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some susceptibility
    • Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility
    • Fire blight: Some susceptibility

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Melrose apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Melrose:

    United States


    United Kingdom


    Canada




    References

    • Apples for the 21st Century
      Author: Manhart

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