Backyard apple breeding

Apple: Jonathan

Shane Gadsby -
  • Vigour: Medium
  • Precociousness: Medium
  • Resistances: Little to none
  • Size of fruit: Medium
  • Flowering: Early
  • Fruiting: Mid-autumn
  • Cropping: Medium
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Fruit colour: Red
  • Flesh colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Parentage: Esopus Spitzenburg x Unknown
  • Descendants: Akane, Jonagold, Idared, and more than 40 other varieties
  • Biennialism: None observed
  • Growth habit: Standard
  • Self-fertile: Yes

Jonathan is one of the most important lineage apple of modern apple breeding, contributing either seed or pollen to nearly 75 named varieties.

It was likely discovered as chance seedling sometime in the early 1800s, and named and sold in 1826.

With extremely strong "red apple" flavour, and a sweet-tart balance, and spiced notes, making for an excellent sauce or pie.
It keeps poorly and should be eaten fresh

NOTE: I have yet to try this apple directly, having only grafted it in 2021, and so have relied on others for information related to this variety.
This entry will be updated as the tree grows and bears.