Growing Heirloom Apples: A Guide to Selecting the Perfect Variety

Heirloom apples deliver flavors from old orchards, each variety a piece of history with tastes that modern types often skip. These trees grow fruit in quirky shapes and complex notes—tart, sweet, or spicy—for pies, cider, or fresh eating. Starting with heirloom apple trees means gardens fill with unique harvests come fall.

These varieties hang on from old orchards, passed down through cuttings or seeds before big agriculture took over. They adapt to local spots better sometimes, shrugging off pests that trip up uniform types. Pollination needs vary. Some are partially self-fertile, others want partners close.

Planting apple trees like heirloom varieties demand the same basic care as any apple tree: proper spacing, deep planting holes, and good soil drainage all make a difference.

What Are Heirloom Apples?

Heirloom apples trace back 100 years or more, A few are open-pollinated types that breed true without hybrid tweaks, but most are preserved through grafting. They skip uniform size and long storage for deeper flavors that shine in cooking or cider. Shapes run odd, skins russet or spotted, but trees tough out local weather better sometimes. The term "heirloom" nods to family legacies and varieties saved from old farms.

Modern apples focus on looks and shelf life, but heirlooms bring diversity—resistance to scab or fire blight in some. Common apple varieties offer comparisons for flavor and use. Heirloom vigor varies—some sprawl wide, others stay dwarf on rootstock. Pollination partners boost yields, since most aren't self-fertile. Many ripen unevenly, extending the harvest season.

Heirloom Apple Varieties To Try

Heirloom apple trees grow fruit in quirky shapes and complex flavor notes. These old-time varieties skip the shiny supermarket look for deeper tastes. Gardens fill with history each fall with these unique these selections.

Cox's Orange Pippin

Cox's Orange Pippin dates to 1830 England. A crisp eater with tangy-sweet notes like pineapple makes it best for fresh snacking or salads. It also stores well for a few months. USDA hardiness zones 5-8 suit it, and it needs good drainage to avoid rot. The skin russets to a golden color, and the fruit is nice and firm.

Trees grow medium size, reaching about 12-16 feet (3.7-4.9 m) tall and wide on semi-dwarf rootstock, and bearing heavily in alternate years. Aromatic flesh makes excellent juice, too. It’s often called the finest dessert apple in Britain. Find Cox's Orange Pippin bare roots from Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Gravenstein

The Gravenstein apple tree hails from 17th-century Denmark and is a tart green-red apple that cooks down silky for pies or sauce. It grows best in hardiness zones 5-8 and is a great pair with Golden Delicious apple trees.

Trees spread wide, reaching about 12-18 feet (3.7-5.5 m) tall and wide, branches laden come August. High acidity shines in cider blends. Early ripening makes it one of the first summer apples. Find the perfect Gravenstein apple tree from Nature Hills Nursery.

Newtown Pippin

Newtown Pippin originated 18th-century New York. Also called 'Albemarle Pipping', it is a green keeper apple with spicy tang for cider or long storage. Newtown Pippin also holds its shape well during baking. Best for hardiness zones 5-8, as the required chill hours are high.

Trees reach medium to vigorous size, about 12-18 feet (3.7-5.5 m) tall and wide. Trees resist scab somewhat and fruit is harvested in late fall. George Washington grew this beauty at Mount Vernon and it was one of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson's favorite apples. You can purchase a bare root Albemarle Pippin apple tree from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

Ashmead's Kernel

Ashmead's Kernel apples are from 1700s England and offer russet skin and nutty, sharp flavor for eating, or cider. Preserving in jams captures the intensity well. Hardy in zones 4-9, the fruit is knobby, and skin rough to touch.

Trees stay compact to medium, about 10-15 feet (3-4.6 m) tall and wide, bearing is consistent. Pear-like undertones develop in storage.

Esopus Spitzenburg

Esopus Spitzenburg, Thomas Jefferson's other favorite apples is from 1790s New York. This heirloom variety produces red apples with a sweet-tart bite for eating or pies. Esopus Spitzenburg does well in hardiness zones 4-7, and needs full sun. The skin is striped, and fruit is juicy.

Trees grow upright, reaching medium size about 12-16 feet (3.7-4.9 m) tall and wide, fruiting mid-season. Aromatic profile suits fresh pressing for tasty cider, too! Find bare root Esopus Spitzenburg apple trees from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

Roxbury Russet

Roxbury Russet, America's oldest heirloom apple variety, is from 1600s Massachusetts. Roxbury is a green-russet keeper with sweet cider notes for storage or baking. This is for zones 4-8, and are scab resistant. The skin is corky, and fruit dense.

Trees are vigorous and with good spread, about 15-20 feet (4.6-6.1 m) tall and wide. The nutty sweetness intensifies over months.

Winesap

Winesap apple trees originate in 1800s New Jersey and deliver dark red apples with wine-like tang for fresh or cider. Zones 5-8, stores months. The skin is thick, and the fruit has a crisp crunch.

Trees stay medium sized, reaching about 12-16 feet (3.7-4.9 m) tall and wide, and bear reliably. Spicy notes enhance sauces and baking. Late ripening extends the season. Find a winesap apple tree bare root from Stark Bro's Nursery & Orchard Co.

Tips for Selecting Heirloom Apple Trees

Pick heirloom apple trees based on local chill hours—most need 500-1000 for fruit set. Rootstock controls size: dwarf for small yards, standard for orchards. Check disease resistance, too. Diseases like fire blight hit some varieties hard.

Apple trees are cross pollinated so partnering 2 or more trees is important. Plant two compatible varieties within 50 feet (15.2 m) of each other so that bees and bugs can do their work and help your trees produce fruit. Fertilize lightly in spring with balanced feed. Be sure to mulch your apple trees to help retain soil moisture.

Prune apple trees in winter for shape, using sharp pruners like these Fiskars bypass pruning shears from Amazon. Water deeply in the first year as your apple trees get used to their new home. Heirloom varieties are often less susceptible to pests like aphids, so that is one less thing to worry about!

Heirloom apples revive flavors long absent from supermarket shelves, offering complex tastes that reward patient growers. Trees endure for decades with consistent pruning and feeding, becoming family landmarks. Each fall harvest connects gardens to centuries of horticultural history.