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

Ginger Gold apple

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Ginger Gold was discovered as a chance seedling growing near a Golden Delicious orchard in Virginia in the 1960s.  The color, shape, and distinctive long stalk all identify it as a relation of Golden Delicious, yet it has a much earlier season - ripening in mid/late August.  Unusually for an early apple, but again reflecting a Golden Delicious parentage, it is a good keeper and will last several weeks in the fridge.

The flavor is fairly mild, and a bit sharper than Golden Delicious but still sweet for an early variety.  It is equally good for eating fresh or processing.

Ginger Gold is generally considered one of the best early-season apples.



Ginger Gold identification photos


  • Copyright: Orange Pippin

  • Ginger Gold
    Copyright: Orange Pippin

Visitor reviews

  • 09 Sep 2019  Jeannette Frank,  MONTANA, United States
    Wondering if it is a cross of a Transparent and Yellow Delicious? Reminds me of the wonderful Transparent apple my parents had in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana
  • 05 Sep 2019  m,  CT, United States
    Decent snap, quite crunchery, though not as sweet as other apples currently available tote was cheap though
  • 29 Aug 2018  Lisa,  PA, United States
    Bought some at a farmstand in Lancaster, Pa. Very disappointing. Too soft, bland taste. Probably been sitting around for a while.
  • 29 Sep 2017  Julia,  United States
    Best apple ever. really gonna miss this guy. tastes so good.
  • 12 Nov 2016  Jim Turner,  PENNSYLVANIA, United States
    Love this apple. Tart-sweet & crunchy. Delicious.
  • 23 Oct 2015  Fran,  PA, United States
    This apple is cruchy, good texture but I did not like the taste, too much like a granny smith.
  • 16 Sep 2015  Martha Turner,  Canada
    One of the best apples I have had. I bought them from an orchard in Prince Edward County. I used them for eating and cooking and found them to be very flavourful and versatile.
  • 18 Aug 2015  Chris Rasmussen,  NC, United States
    I just bought some of these directly from their point of origin, Nelson County, VA, from the Apple Shed. Unbelievably good! I wish I had bought a few bushels!
  • 12 Oct 2014  Grandma,  KANSAS, United States
    Here in N central Kansas the ginger gold which I found at my local grocery were mushy, pretty much tasteless and past their prime for eating. They were so pretty to look at, but a disappointment from the first bite.
  • 23 Sep 2013  Anthony Chiappinelli,  NY-NEW YORK, United States
    First time that we tasted this apple we were hooked. Crisp/sweet and a bit of tang make it a great eating apple. My wife is a fantastic cook and she made an apple pie using these apples as an experiment. Well the pie turned out great, the apples did not fall and the pie was perfect. No excessive water came out of the apples. Although we couldn't find anyone who recommended this variety for pie making, it works great.
  • 17 Sep 2013  Mark Stephenson,  AZ, United States
    Wonderful taste, but I like a crisp apple and Ginger Golds aren't, at least in Phoenix. I've found all apples to be a bit mushier here than when I lived in PA, but even in the best circumstances, these would be too mushy for my taste.
  • 15 Sep 2013  Sarah,  ONTARIO, Canada
    Just bought some of these from a local orchard. My mom (who doesn't usually like fruit) loves it. The apple is super juicy and crisp like honey crisp. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes granny smith (ick), because it has similar tartness but it's infinitely tastier. They're also very pretty. :) Can't comment on grocery store ones or on how long they keep - we won't have ours for long!
  • 22 Oct 2012  Heather,  NY, United States
    I live in upstate NY "apple country", so I've grown up spoiled with some of the best apples in the world. I used tob be a huge MacIntosh and Macoun fan, but after my first taste of Ginger Gold, I am hooked. They are available fresh much earlier than other varieties, and they keep well. Sweet, not too soft, wonderful texture.
  • 09 Sep 2012  Andrew,  MA, United States
    There's a pick-your-own orchard near here that grows these. Once I tasted them, I pawned all the apples I'd already picked off on others, and filled my bag with these. Storebought versions of them just aren't the same. The finest apple I've had the opportunity to eat.
  • 16 Jan 2011  P. Seburn,  NW VA, United States
    Delicious and beautiful pale yellow apple with fine grained crispy white flesh. Wonderful acidic kick, probably from its Pippin heritage. Glad Costco carries them from PA when in season - addictive.

Tree register

United States

Canada

Spring blossom records for this variety

2020 season

  • 24th April  2020  - tree owned by Steven in Turney, United States

2015 season

  • 5th May  2015  - tree owned by Susan in Fitchburg, United States

2014 season

  • 17th May  2014  - tree owned by Cora in Roxbury, United States

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


Harvest records for this variety

2015 season

  • September  2015  - tree owned by Roger in Madison Heights, United States
  • August  2015  - tree owned by Susan in Fitchburg, United States

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Possibly Golden Delicious and Albemarle Pippin
  • Originates from: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
  • Introduced: 1960s
  • Developed by: Ginger Harvey
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 1576

Identification

  • Fruit colour: Yellow / Gold
  • Flesh colour: White to Greenish to Greenish Yellow
  • Flesh colour: White to Cream, pale yellow
  • Fruit size: Small
  • Fruit size: Variable
  • Fruit size: Medium
  • Fruit size: Large
  • Fruit shape: Conical
  • Fruit shape: Long-conical

Using

  • Uses: Eat fresh
  • Uses: Cooking
  • Uses: Drying
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style: Sweet/Sharp
  • Harvest period: Early season
  • Use / keeping: 1-2 months

Growing

  • Cropping: Good
  • Flowering period: Mid-Late season
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Vigour: Average growth
  • Precocity: Precocious
  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer

Parents and other ancestors of this variety


Diseases

  • Fireblight  - Some susceptibility
  • Cedar apple rust  - Very susceptible


Where to buy fresh fruit

United States


Canada




References

  • Cedar-Apple Rust  
    Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
    Rated as highly susceptible - control always needed where CAR is prevalent.
  • Apples for the 21st Century
    Author: Manhart

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