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GoldRush apple

GoldRush

GoldRush is an attractive smooth-skinned modern dessert apple, specifically developed for scab-resistance.  The flavour is good, typical of Golden Delicious but with a bit more acidity.  As a relatively new variety there is not much experience yet, but it appears to be good at most of the things Golden Delicious is good at, including keeping well and with excellent juice.

The variety is derived from Golden Delicious as the seed parent, with crosses from several other research varieties including Winesap, Melrose, Rome Beauty and Malus floribunda - the latter being a well-known source of the Vf scab-resistant gene.

More details of the scientific programme that led to GoldRush can be found at the Purdue University website: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/pri/coop38-3.html.  GoldRush is sometimes known by its programme reference Coop38.

GoldRush makes a good garden apple variety - heavy-cropping, good disease-resistance, winter-hardy, and almost foolproof to grow.  Its one drawback is susceptibility to Cedar Apple Rust (CAR).

GoldRush apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • GoldRush
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  • GoldRush

USDA identification images for GoldRush

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


    Visitor reviews

    • 14 Dec 2019  KENTUCKY, United States
      This apple is incredible. My new favorite apple. I tried it by chance and had to go on a hunt talking to people to find out what it was. The hunt was so worth it because i now have a full basket of them! Tart but sweet at the same time with a decent amount of acidity is the flavor. You will not regret buying these. Soooo much better than red delicious or golden delicious it’s ridiculous
    • 01 Oct 2019  PA, United States
      My favorite snacking apple. It is very dense and crunchy, and has a very bold taste which is both tart and sweet. Size wise, it's is not too small, and not too big. Finally, it remains available (and crunchy!) throughout winter and even into Spring in Pennsylvania, USA.
    • 18 Dec 2018  Eclimeux, France
      découvert chez un petit pépiniériste du Nord de la France, celle ci présente l'avantage de pouvoir se consommer sur l'arbre tout l'hiver! elle n'en sera que meilleure puisque qu'elle sera moins acide ! l'arbre est de bonne vigueur , de type IV de fructification, la pomme peut présenter des points rouges qui sont une forme de résistance à la tavelure. en revanche à tendance à se friper dès le mois de février dans les caisses même si bien conservée.
    • 13 Dec 2018  NEW YORK, United States
      Great apple for eating and an exceptional Apple for Pies and Crisp
    • 17 Apr 2018  LONDON, United Kingdom
      I found a Farm shop here in the UK that had some of these apples for sale. Now its 16th April and was suprised to see an apple available so late. Its a wonderful tasting Apple very tart and sweet.
    • 17 Apr 2018  MASSACHUSETTS, United States
      I agree that it is a great apple. I find it to be a little small (thinning doesn't help much), and the apple is not especially attractive. It wrinkles in storage like Golden Delicious, so I plan to start storing in plastic bags.
    • 24 Dec 2016  LOUISIANA, United States
      Just tried this apple from a Gift box from Cummins Nursery, Wow, what flavor! Love the sweetness with just enough acid to blend. My favorite apple so far!
    • 09 Nov 2016  United States
      Found at fruit stand here in Central VA. Delicious apple, crisp and flavorful. Reasonably priced at 1.29 per pound.
    • 06 Oct 2016  VA - VIRGINIA, United States
      A PA based apple grower at my local farmer's market has been selling these the past few years. Probably the best apple I've ever had. Wonderful flavor.
    • 25 Nov 2013  Oregon, United States
      Our first crop of Gold Rush was just picked at the end of November here in Oregon. It's already a favorite! Both tart and sweet, with a pleasing late season crunch. Wish we had enough of them to make cider -- time to plant a couple more trees of this variety.
    • 26 Dec 2012  NY, United States
      Have an urban garden and am looking at those apples that please me and who's color will not be irresistible to the passerby
    • 08 Nov 2012  TX, United States
      Why on earth would you eat a Golden Delicious when you could eat one of these?! Tried a small one from an organic farm in Kansas in early November. Juicy, crisp, and intensely sweet, balanced nicely by acid.
    • 25 Jun 2012  OREGON, UNITED STATES, United States
      We pick this apple in early November and put it in bags in a detached and unheated garage (that doesn't get too far below freezing). The apples finish ripening off the tree (in our garage) in December and January. We don't bother eating them until January after the flavor develops. The apples are excellent until we run out of them in May. Even when the outside gets wrinkled in later storage, the inside is still juicy and intensely flavorful. Even the wrinkled skin is nice to eat because it's not waxy. We're going to plant more of these trees.
    • 08 Jun 2012  VA, United States
      These are the tastiest apples I have ever tried! The local Farmers Market had samples and I am hooked. It is almost summer and these apples still have terrific flavor. I am wondering if the flavor is still this good so long after harvest, when they are fresh, would the flavor be too intense?
    • 15 Feb 2012  NY, United States
      An excellent apple and an excellent tree for home orchard. Very easy to grow. You will need to spray for cedar rust if you have cedars nearby and they are prone to late summer diseases (Sooty blotch and flyspec) if the weather is wet. Wonderful tasting after storage for 6 weeks or more and stores exceptionally well. Makes one of the best pies I've ever tasted.
    • 16 Jan 2011  NW VA, United States
      A wonderful apple in VA, intense flavor and very firm dense flesh that keeps forever. My two young trees seem to be very disease resistant and manageable. Nice deep green waxy foliage like many of the more disease resistant cultivars.
    • 01 Dec 2010  PENNSYLVANIA, United States
      Goldrush apples are great here in eastern PA. They are by far the favorite apple of our family. The trees bear young and heavily. A real winner in a backyard orchard.
    • 28 Nov 2010  DODDOGNE, France
      this is an amazing apple that we buy by the crate from a local apple farm. Where can we buy some young trees of our own here in France?
    • 13 Nov 2010  SC, United States
      Tried this apple at Century Farms Orchards in NC. It is now one of my new favorite apples. It is nice crisp apple and is very sweet with a very rich, complex flavor.
    • 12 Oct 2010  BRUSSELS, Belgium
      Where can I buy a gold rush apple tree in Belgium?

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    France

    Netherlands

    Canada

    India

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 8th May  2022  - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States

    2020 season

    • 23rd April  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2019 season

    • 24th April  2019  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2018 season

    • 20th April  2018  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2017 season

    • 16th May  2017  - tree owned by Jessica in Gatineau, Canada
    • 17th April  2017  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2014 season

    • 29th April  2014  - tree owned by Matt in Reynoldsburg, United States
    • 24th April  2014  - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
    • April  2014  - tree owned by Roger in Bolivar, United States

    2013 season

    • 21st May  2013  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
    • May  2013  - tree owned by Matt in Reynoldsburg, United States

    2012 season

    • 9th May  2012  - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
    • 20th March  2012  - tree owned by Mark in Harvest, United States

    2011 season

    • 20th May  2011  - tree owned by Ron in Orion, United States
    • 31st March  2011  - tree owned by Mark in Harvest, United States

    2010 season

    • 10th April  2010  - tree owned by Mark in Harvest, United States

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2020 season

    • 1st week December  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2019 season

    • 3rd week December  2019  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States
    • 1st week December  2019  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2018 season

    • 4th week November  2018  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2017 season

    • 1st week November  2017  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States
    • 4th week October  2017  - tree owned by Jessica in Gatineau, Canada

    2016 season

    • 4th week October  2016  - tree owned by Chris in Federal Way, United States

    2015 season

    • October  2015  - tree owned by Roger in Madison Heights, United States
    • October  2015  - tree owned by Roger in Madison Heights, United States

    2011 season

    • 2nd week October  2011  - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
    • 2nd week September  2011  - tree owned by Mark in Harvest, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Seed parent is Golden Delicious
    • Originates from: Purdue Research Farm, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, United States
    • Introduced: 1990s
    • Developed by: Joint breeding programme of Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations.

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United States
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Alleles: 2
    • Alleles: 28

    Using

    • Picking season: Very late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more Will store for 6 months in domestic fridge
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweeter Some sharpness when picked, mellows in storage
    • Discoloration of fruit: Slightly oxidising (browns slowly)
    • Cropping: Heavy
    • Fruit persistence: Persistent
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Food uses: Hard cider
    • Picking period: mid-November
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour Naturally suited to central-leader training
    • Bearing regularity: Biennial tendency
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Suitable
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
    • Feathers on maiden: Rarely has feathers (whip)

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 5 (-29C)
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Hot (>30C / 86F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Good
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
    • Powdery mildew: Very resistant
    • Fire blight: Some resistance
    • Cedar apple rust: Some susceptibility

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer GoldRush apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow GoldRush:

    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
    • Some Antique Apples for Modern Orchards, (2008)
      Author: Merwin I.A.

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