Apple varieties Alphabetical Chart - which apple to pick and why!

Are you trying to choose the right variety of apple for your needs? There are many to choose from. There are heirloom varieties that have been around for hundreds of years and apple growers are constantly creating new varieties to meet consumer tastes and 2026 is no exception. Scroll down this page for a table of dozens of apple varieties includingphotos and their characteristics and best uses. This page has tips about harvesting and storing apples. And if you bring home some apples and want to make applesauce, apple butter,apple juice, apple pie, apple cobbler, apple crisp, even apple cider, just click the links for each to follow directions and recipes or see this page see this page for a master list of simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, such as this list of local regional and apple festivals - click on the resources dropdown above.

If you have questions or feedback, please let me know!  

What's in season in May 2026, and other timely information:

Notes for May 2026: Spring is here! The very brief Asparagus and Rhubarb season should be starting right now in many areas! Cherry picking and  Strawberry season is here or almost here.  It started in February in Florida, Texas, southern California and a few other areas of the Deep South; then March along the Gulf coast, April in the Deep South and west coast, May through much of the country, and June in northern areas. Blueberries are next, about a month later. Of course, cool weather crops, greens should be available almost everywhere. Check your area's crop calendar (see this page) and call your local farms for seasonal updates.

Are carpenter bees boring holes into your house, shed or barn? There is a simple non-toxic solution!

NEW! Start your own tomato, pepper, squash and other vegetable plants from seed - It's easy and costs about 50 cents per plant.
Also see our Master list of tomato varieties,  with descriptions, details and links to ordering the seeds.

You may also be interested in finding a local:

• Children's Consignment Sale happening now
• Easter egg hunts, Easter parades, visits with the Bunny, etc,

We also have home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! It is easy to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. Also note, there are many copycat website listing U-pick farms now.  They have all copied their information from here and usually do not ever update.  Since 2002, I've been updating the information every day but Christmas; so if you see anything wrong or outdated, please write me!

Apple varieties Alphabetical Chart - which apple to pick and why!

2026 looks to have apples ripening on their normal schedule. There have been few late frosts in the main apple growing regions, rain and temperatures have been good, so the year is shaping up well for a good apple crop. It's too early for prices, but I expect most areas to see $14 to $30 a bushel, depending on variety! Scroll down the page to see the chart, or click here for a PDF print version. And for an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page!  To see how to properly store apples for the winter, see this page!

Varieties which are exceptional for a trait are noted in the chart below (Best, very good, etc.). Varieties which are at least good and well-suited have an "X" in a column.  A blank box simply means that they are average for the quality. Ultimately, it is personal preference and cultural traditions. that often determines which varieties of apples are used for which purpose. That said, sweeter and softer apples make the best applesauce (like Gala), harder, drier apples are often used for baking and storing (like Rome and Arkansas Black), and tarter, more crisp and juicier apples are often eaten fresh (like Honeycrisp).

If you would like to print a clean PDF version of this table, click here.

Apple Varieties Guide - Which Apple to Pick and Why!

Summary Table (click here for the detailed guide)

(Sorted alphabetically on variety name; see this page for a sort by typical ripening date)

Blank means OK or average

Name	Ripening Date Dates are approximate and vary CONSIDERABLY with weather, location and more!	Eating fresh	Cooking	Apple Sauce	Apple Pie	Apple Juice	Apple Butter	Storage
Zestar	Late July into mid AUgust	X	X	good	X	X	X	Should Refrigerate , not a good keeper
Akane	August		X
Ambrosia	mid to late September	X	X	good	X	X	X	Should Refrigerate , not a good keeper
Arkansas Black	mid to late October		Baking	too hard				Great keeper
Black Twig	mid to late October	X	X	X	X	X	X
Blushing Golden	early to Mid October	X	X		X	X	X
Braeburn	early to Mid October	X	X	X	X
Cameo	early to Mid October	Very good	X	Very good	X		X
Cortland	mid to late September	X		X	X	X	X
Earligold	August	X	X	X	X			Must Refrigerate
Enterprise	early to Mid October	X	X
Evercrisp	Mid October through November	Very good	X	Very Good	X	BEST	X	Excellent storage due to it's parents (Fuji and Honeycrisp)
Fuji	mid to late October	Very good	X	BEST	X		X	Great keeper; stores well in garage or basement
Gala	mid August to early September	Very good	X	BEST	X	X	X	Must refrigerate; even then only keeps for a few weeks
Ginger Gold	September	Very good	X	Very good	X		X
Golden Delicious	mid to late September	X	X	Very good	X	X	X	Should Refrigerate
Granny Smith	mid to late October	X	X			X
Honeycrisp	September	Very good	X	good, but watery	X	BEST	X	Storage is good, not great
Idared	October	X	X		X
Jazz	early to Mid October	X	X	Very good	X	X	X
Jersey Mac	August	X	X					OK
Jonagold	mid to late September	X		Very good		X		OK
Jonalicious	mid to late September	X	X	Very good	X	X	X	Must Refrigerate
Jonamac	mid to late September	X		Very good		X		OK
Jonathan	mid to late September	X	X	Very good	X	X	X	OK
Jubilee	Late September to early October	X	X	X	X
Keepsake	Late September to early October	X	X		X
Liberty	mid to late October	X	X
Lodi	Mid July	X		GOOD				Must Refrigerate
Macoun	mid to late October	X	X
McIntosh	September	X		good		X	X
Melrose	early to Mid October	X	X	Very good	X	X	X
Mollies Delicious	August		X					Must Refrigerate
Mutsu, also called Crispin	Late September to early October	X	X	Very good	X		X
Northern Spy	Late September to early October	X	X					Very good for storing
PaulaRed	mid August to early September	X	X	X	X		X
Pink Lady	mid to late October	X	X	good	X	X	X
Red Delicious	mid to late September	X		good			X
Rome	early to Mid October		X		X
Shizuka	Late September to early October	X	X	X	X	X	X
Snowsweet	Late September, 2 weeks after HoneyCrisp	X		X	X	X	X	Good
Stayman	Early September
Stayman Winesap	mid to late October	X	X	good		X
Strawberry	Early September	X	X	X	X	X	X	OK
Suncrisp	mid to late October	X	X		X	X	X
Sundance	early to Mid October	X	X			X	X
SweeTango	mid August to early September	X		X	X		X
Ultra Gold	mid to late September	X	X	X	X	X	X
Yates	mid to late October	X	X		X	X		Stores very well

 

Of course, each region of the country and each season varies. Variations in rainfall and temperature greatly affect the usual ripening date. So call ahead!

Click here for detailed descriptions of each apple variety with detailed characteristics

English Apple Varieties

These links take you to photos on GardenAction.co.uk

• Bramley - The English gush over this apple with a fever (fevour?:) that borders on mania. It's basically a granny smith type, a higher acid content and lower sugar apple, with a stronger, more tangy taste. Bramley's are considered to be an ideal cooking apple.
• Charles Ross
• Crispin
• Early Victoria
• Early Worcester
• Ellisons Orange
• Epicure
• Gibsons Scarlet
• Golden Spire
• Greensleaves
• Howgate Wonder
• Ingrid Marie
• James Grieve
• Jonagored
• Jupiter
• Katy
• Orleans Reinette
• Peasgood Nonsuch
• Red Gravenstein
• Red Victoria
• Rev W. Wilks
• Ribston Pippin
• Rosemary Russett
• Spartan
• Sturmer Pippin
• Sunset
• Superb
• Tydermans Late Orange
• Warners King
• Winston

 

More about apple varieties can be found:

University of Illinois Apple page

Apple Photos
Over 100 photos of apple varieties

Apple photos and brief descriptions

Credits:

photos:
Jonamac, Macoun, PaulaRed: Courtesy of New York Apple Association, © New York Apple Association

And if you are looking for shipping containers for apples and other fruit, see this page.

McSunley 21.5 quart Water Bath Canner, Stainless Steel Granite Ware 21 QT, 9 Piece Enamelware Water bath Canning Pot with Canning kit, Colander and Rack VKP Brands Water Bath AND Steam Canner, 20 Quart Stainless Steel, flat-bottomed Induction range compatible and safe for smooth top ranges.

Home Canning Kits This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, Jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You will never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also a simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a Pressure Canner, if you want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!

Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc. Need lids, rings and replacement jars?  Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes?  Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store! Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!