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Sweet Sixteen apple

Malus domestica
/ 3 see reviews
Sweet Sixteen
Large, red striped fruit. Firm, crisp, aromatic flesh. Moderately acidic.

Sweet Sixteen apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Sweet Sixteen
  • Sweet Sixteen

USDA identification images for Sweet Sixteen

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

    • 07 Oct 2022 
      I'm a small apple orchard about 12 trees. sweet sixteen is a very good apple tree for southwestern Pa very hardy apples are a very good taste. Juicy and sweet holdup good.
    • 25 Oct 2018  CO, United States
      Crisp and juicy, but small fruits. Picked the last few mid/late Oct. That first bite will amaze, a taste of cherry and cotton candy, with delectable aroma. The most ambrosial apple in the orchard.
    • 22 Oct 2018  MA, United States
      Maybe the apple I bought was mis-identified, but I thought it was very similar to a McIntosh in flavor and texture.
    • 08 Apr 2017  United States
      One of my favorite. Very complex, sweet flavor. Texture is great similar to MacIntosh.
    • 19 Oct 2014  MA, United States
      2 trees on G30 planted Spring 2014 have grown from 3 feet to 6 feet this year.
    • 20 Nov 2013  MAINE, United States
      Sweet Sixteen's rich, complex sweet flavor -including hints of cherry candy and raw sugar... really!- coupled with its lovely yellow crisp flesh make this one of the most eye opening, fantastic apple eating experiences.
    • 20 Sep 2011  WISCONSIN, United States
      Sweet sixteen is an excellent mid-season apple. The fruits are medium to large and crisp. They are extremely sweet with just a bit of zing. They have an anise flavor that makes for a unique apple tasting experience. A great apple for the North as they are hardy trees.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    • Gray in Rugby, WARKS

    Netherlands

    Canada

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2025 season

    • 29th May  2025  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States

    2024 season

    • 16th May  2024  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States

    2023 season

    • 29th May  2023  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States

    2022 season

    • 30th May  2022  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 12th May  2022  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2021 season

    • 23rd May  2021  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 5th May  2021  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States
    • 5th May  2021  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2020 season

    • 29th May  2020  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 21st May  2020  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States
    • 30th April  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2019 season

    • 12th June  2019  - tree owned by Steven in Skandia, United States
    • 31st May  2019  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 9th May  2019  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States
    • 4th May  2019  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2018 season

    • 29th May  2018  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 20th May  2018  - tree owned by Kurt in Ladysmith, United States
    • 1st May  2018  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2017 season

    • 28th May  2017  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 16th April  2017  - tree owned by Cj in Horseshoe Bend, United States

    2016 season

    • 27th May  2016  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 18th May  2016  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States

    2015 season

    • 30th May  2015  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 10th May  2015  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States

    2014 season

    • 6th June  2014  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 27th May  2014  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States
    • May  2014  - tree owned by JSchreiber in West Concord, United States

    2013 season

    • 8th June  2013  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 20th May  2013  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States
    • 9th May  2013  - tree owned by James in Estacada, United States

    2011 season

    • 19th May  2011  - tree owned by Ron in Orion, United States
    • May  2011  - tree owned by Dan in Camano Island, United States

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2024 season

    • 4th week September  2024  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States

    2022 season

    • 1st week October  2022  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 2nd week September  2022  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2021 season

    • 4th week September  2021  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 2nd week September  2021  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2020 season

    • 4th week September  2020  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States

    2019 season

    • 1st week October  2019  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 4th week September  2019  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States
    • 2nd week September  2019  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2018 season

    • 2nd week October  2018  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2017 season

    • 1st week October  2017  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 2nd week September  2017  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2016 season

    • 1st week October  2016  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 3rd week September  2016  - tree owned by JSchreiber in West Concord, United States

    2015 season

    • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by JSchreiber in West Concord, United States
    • 2nd week September  2015  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States
    • 2nd week September  2015  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States
    • September  2015  - tree owned by Roger in Madison Heights, United States

    2014 season

    • 2nd week October  2014  - tree owned by David in Two Rivers, United States
    • 2nd week September  2014  - tree owned by JSchreiber in West Concord, United States
    • 2nd week September  2014  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2013 season

    • 3rd week October  2013  - tree owned by Craig in Manning, United States
    • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by James in Estacada, United States
    • 4th week September  2013  - tree owned by Charley in Grantsburg, United States
    • 3rd week September  2013  - tree owned by Brian in Green Bay, United States
    • 2nd week September  2013  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Frostbite x Northern Spy
    • Originates from: Minnesota, United States
    • Introduced: 1973
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1976-004

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United States
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Developer: University of Minnesota

    Using

    • Picking season: Mid
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweeter
    • Discoloration of fruit: Slightly oxidising (browns slowly)
    • Cropping: Good
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Picking period: mid-September
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Vigorous
    • Precocity: Precocious
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 3 (-40C)
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Good
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
    • Fire blight: Some resistance
    • Cedar apple rust: Some resistance

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Sweet Sixteen apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Sweet Sixteen:

    United States


    Canada




    References

    • Apples for the 21st Century
      Author: Manhart

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