Sunset apple

Sunset apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Sunset

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

• 17 May 2024 

  Bought a tree a few years ago. Didn’t produce a good crop last year. But this year masses of blossom.
• 02 May 2024 

  We have grown sunsets for a number of years. On a vigorous rootstock they can do well on poor soil. Generally reliable heavy croppers but as article states necessary to thin out the the fruits to ensure a decent size. In our experience they store well (individually wrapped, stored on trays in unheated green house so cool in winter) this year we ate the last of the crop in early February. Can get canker, choose your tree carefully!
• 13 Aug 2022 

  Fruits very well every year. Not a good keeper.
• 25 Feb 2022 

  I actually prefer the flavour of sunset over cox: a little more crisp and sour, towards Fuji, but a stroger flavour. In fact I would say sunset is my favourite-tasting apple . I didn't notice any "bad flavour" years in my case.
• 15 Oct 2019  ANGUS, United Kingdom

  My sunset trees are the workhorse in my orchard. I call it the insurance apple, it always crops heavily and will excel in a poor year, plus the blossom is intense and frost resistant. If there were a year where sunset failed to crop this would surely be a sign of the apocalypse! Flavour is 7/10, trees are very healthy and fruit is clean
• 16 Sep 2018  POWYS, United Kingdom

  Mature tree in garden when we moved in, believe it to be Sunset. Pretty heavy crop, starting mid-summer, but many fallers, some rotting on the branch and others attacked by wasps. Plenty of eaters remaining though. Lovely taste, crisp and sweet. Flesh brows quickly. I have retained a few dozen, wrapped in newspaper and stored in garden shed, hoping that they will keep well. Next year I may try thinning them out but suspect wasp trouble will persist.
• 14 Dec 2016  ROSS & CROMARTY, United Kingdom

  I planted a Red Falstaff on my allotment back in 2012, along with a Red Falstaff and an Eggremont Russet. It’s done pretty well and had no problems, with a crop of about 30 apples this year on a 2m tree. Although the flavour is quite similar to a Cox, I think I’d have to agree with the site review that it’s not as deep or rounded a flavour a a good Cox apple.
• 15 Mar 2015  CO DOWN, Ireland

  Have had sunset tree for about 10 years and always produced masses of small fruit if not not heavily thinned out. Tried chilling some at 3-5 Degrees this year and eat the last ones today still very sweet and firm
• 31 Oct 2014  LANCASHIRE, United Kingdom

  This is the fourth year of my Sunset tree and the apples are HUGE with an average weight of 9-10 ounces and 10 to 11 inches in circumference. I wonder if this is because it is very windy here and they are thinned out naturally by being blown off when they are just fruitlets. We love the tangy flavour and they are so juicy it runs down your hand. The skin is a little bit tough. We started picking them about a week ago ie the 3rd week in October and the total harvest will be 38 apples
• 13 Oct 2009  EAST DEVON, United Kingdom

  I have this apple and a Sturmer Pippen. Sunset is the better taste and croper of the two. Both of them make very good juice and cider, so I am not too bothered about the size.
• 04 Oct 2008  HAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom

  Tasted Sunset at an apple tasting event at Damerham near Fordingbridge produced at Fruitwise Durley and thought that they were the best tasting of ten or so available.Firm, sweet, juicy and lovely flavour. Prefered it to the following; Kidds Orange Red, Spartan, Orleans Rreinette, Pitmaston Pineapple, Lord Lambourne, Egremont Russet, Ribston pppin, Ellison's Orange, and James Grieve.
• 01 Oct 2008  WAKEFIELD, United Kingdom

  Marian Fitch may have a similarly named apple "Suntan". It is a later variety (late Oct-Nov), and has a good deep red shading when ripe.
• 24 Sep 2008  ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  Hello i have sunset apples and i was wondering when to pick them?
• 03 Jun 2008  SOMERSET, United Kingdom

  Reading the comments I wonder if my 'Sunset' is miss named. It never drops, always has to be picked and stays well on the tree. Large fruit with much red on it. Sweet and crisp, a lovely flavour.
• 02 Jun 2008  MIDLAND MICHIGAN, United States

  The apple is small, but is the most beautiful orange-red of any apple I have ever seen and I have seen almost 700 varieties..
• 13 Nov 2007  BRIDPORT WEST DORSET, United Kingdom

  I have this apple and it doesnt EVER fruit after October so dont understand that summary on this site of its fruiting times! I love its crisp sharp taste, even the tiny ones taste lovely!
• 11 Oct 2007  Ireland

  Picking now (11th Oct); superb apple - sweet, crisp, aromatic, very juicy. Small if not thinned, but this year I thinned early to one apple per truss and results are great.
• 05 Oct 2007  WEST DORSET, United Kingdom

  Always crops well. A strong apple taste and very sweet when fully ripe. Crisp flesh and not sharp. Tends to drop. Less disease problems than the Cox. Texture becomes soft if kept.
• 24 Sep 2007  EX15, United States

  Very heavy crop. Interesting and complicated flavours. Far too sharp for a dessert apple. However, the whole family detests the Cox. Will juice them this year as a last resort. Expect to rip it out. Rgds. Malcolm

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• United States1
• United Kingdom104
• France 1
• Ireland3
• New Zealand1

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Sunset apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
  Sunset apple trees

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Sunset:

United Kingdom

• England - midlands

  • Meynell Langley Trials Gardens, Derby
  • The Vyne, Basingstoke
  • Cotteridge Community Orchard, Birmingham
  • Walsgrove Farm, Worcester

• England - north

  • Pickering Road Community Orchard, Hull
  • Saddleworth Orchard, Saddleworth

• England - south-east

  • Kimpton Manor Apple Press, Andover

• England - south-west

  • Charlton Orchards, Taunton

References

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