Mother apple

Mother apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Mother

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.

Visitor reviews

• 22 Oct 2023 

  I would like to add some my Experiences and info from web in my Country. Name: MOTHER (NONNETITE) ORIGIN: USA, Bolton-Massachusetts , First info 1848, propagated since 1887, in my country CZ registered in 1954. MAIN FEATURES: Apple is medium to large, some round, some more conical. Green to yellow, with a dark red cheek and annealing. (on full sun can be almost completely Red) Green in storage goes to yellow. (photo 2 Best example). The flesh is yellow, tender, juicy, sweet, aromatic and taste like none other. After about 1 months from picking they are in Best quality. Skin yellow and Red. Flesh get even more yellow, scent so intense, taste super sweet, some People say with bit of banana. Skin is waxy, non shiny (if not polished). Waxiness feel dicrease with time in storage. Stem is short, some even hid in stem hole. On the other side(dont know the English Word) this part is not in deep hole or there is no hole at all. MY EXPERIENCE: My Mother bought cotage with old orchard with about 30 Apple trees with 4x this variety. Trees are about 30-50 years, 7x7x7m high trunk shapes. Zone 5-6, 550m, 100% Bio orchard. Never had problem with cold, max. - 20°C seldom, or any diseases. My family is addicted to this Apple so although we have many varieties in orchard with beter storage qualities etc. I fill 2/3 of storage with this one. In our old Stone, wet celar we take Last wrinckled pieces in the begining of spring. We also Press our own Apple juice from this variety. For that, after picking we leave it outside on the Grass or in the box for about 1 month. Juice is than so sweet, dense, aromatic and that smell... , every Apple juice after that is Just sour water :). In our country from 1960 to 1995 this Apple become well known variety that become "must have" in your orchard. After about 30 years It is experiencing a renaissance in planting. More info from webs: REQUIREMENTS: Thrives in medium and higher positions on fertile soils. In lower locations and drier soils, the fruits tend to be smaller and less colored GROWTH: moderately vigorous, weaker in fertility. Trees require the correct shaping of skeletal branches, as vertical shoots do not branch well and do not grow. It bears fruit at the ends of long fertile shoots. FERTILITY: medium early, abundant and regular (with good care). BASE: for the smallest shapes M 9, for small shapes M 7. or M 4, for quarter logs A 2, M 1 or seedling. Fertility is not satisfactory on weakly growing rootstocks. RIPE: Harvested at the end of September, ripens for consumption until November or longer depending on storage conditions. HEALTH CONDITION: The wood is less resistant to frost; almost ressistant to scab and suffer less from powdery mildew.
• 28 Apr 2020  CO, United States

  I grafted this apple, It grew well for two seasons, but this spring it had died over the winter. The branches where bout 2.5 cm in diameter at the base. Two other Apple grafts on the same top dressed tree, are viable with no dead wood.
• 06 Sep 2019  IL, United States

  Mother is an apple who's flavor is greatly effected by the conditions on a year to year basis. Some years it is a decent, also ran apple years it develops a very aromatic profile, and now and again it will shock you by how good it is. I have never had it fail to crop, it is disease resistant, and exhibits some fireblight resistance. This apple is always a surprise and I look forward to it every year. For an apple that can be very aromatic it is not the squirrel magnet you would think it would be. If you are a home grower I would suggest just grafting a branch, that get sunshine, to mother or putting it on M27. The point being it has its good and its great years. IMO, it is far too variable (at least in my area) to warrant a large percentage of space, but it can be such and unusual and exquisite apple it does deserve a place in every orchard. It does not keep long and does best when mellowed a bit before eating. It is not crunchy bit sort of firm like many English apples. Given its aromatic qualities and texture I am not surprised it was famed across the pond for a while.
• 13 Mar 2015  WASHINGTON, United States

  Perfectly plain, no scab, even finish, soft-breaking, keeps a month, not a standout at the market, easy to grow for me; It's mild flavor would be lost in a warmer climate I think. My 65 degree average is great for the early-mid, Alkmene is another; and the somewhat dry skin did not attract maggot like some (Akane).
• 05 Sep 2010  HEREFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom

  Have just re-read others' comments about this variety, and must say, my fruits don't sound the same. Bought about 25 years ago from Scotts of Merriott, although a useful apple, mine have a non-waxy skin, end up mainly red with 'shoulders' to the fruit and have a reasonable but undistinguished flavour. Have I got something else?
• 05 Sep 2010  HEREFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom

  We have grown this variety for about 25 years and find it very reliable, with large crops of beautiful crimson apples that keep till just after Christmas. We are in a cold spot, and find it tough and hardy, with few problems from pests and diseases. I have one with my muesli every day through October, November and December.
• 17 Nov 2009  IPSWICH UK., United Kingdom

  I have found a tree at Crown Nurseries, just 12 miles away so I'm hoping to taste them again, on my 80th birthday! It has a red and yellow - VERY waxy skin, and as you say, tastes like no other. Young gardeners should make sure it's on their shopping list.
• 25 May 2009  IPSWICH UK., United Kingdom

  My father Bill, planted an American Mother tree when I was a child. By the time I was a teenager, it has become a very large tree and I remember the flavour being like no other. Where can I find a tree now? I might add, that I am now 77 (in 2009!) so am looking for instant results !!!
• 07 Nov 2008  OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, United States

  I believe this is the same apple we had in Nova Scotia. What a distinctive taste, like no other apple. It was our favorite and I can still taste it even though the trees have been gone for 30 years. Does it have tiny flecks on the skin? If so, I'm sure.
• 12 Oct 2008  OXON, United Kingdom

  I love this apple! Great cropper with good flavour whether eater raw or cooked. I stew and bottle it with Golden Noble (another brilliant cooker, not listed here) and it adds a nice pink colour. Keeps its shape when cooked and, best of all, like the Golde Noble which I'd also recommend, needs no sugar - who could ask for more?!

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• United States14
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• Ireland1
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• Canada3
• Australia1
• New Zealand2

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Mother apple trees for sale:

• Cummins Nursery
  United States  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Mother:

United States

• Connecticut

  • Seek No Further Orchard, Hebron

• Iowa

  • Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City

• Michigan

  • Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester
  • KlineKrest USDA Certified Organic Produce Farm, Lyons

• Minnesota

  • Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley

• Washington

  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Cattleana Ranch, Poygan Township/Omro
  • Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove

References

• Apples of England (1948)
  Author: Taylor
• Fruit Expert
  Author: Hessayon