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Harrison Apple on G.11 (Spring 2024)


The most important apple for traditional Newark cider production. Also known as Harrison's Cider, Long Stem, Osborne Apple.

This tree is vigorous and very productive; Tom Burford (Apples of North America) states that a single tree can produce about 100 bushels of apples! It will need thinning to maintain annual bearing and it is tip bearing. It is scab resistant and resistant to rot.

Harrison apples are smallish, round, long-stemmed (hence their alternative name "Long Stem"), and yellow. With a smattering of dark spots and a slightly scruffy exterior, this is not going to win any beauty contests. But when pressed, Harrison yields abundant dark, rich juice that contains an excellent balance of tannin, sugar, and acid, and that can be fermented to a single-variety cider. Along with Campfield and Graniwinkle, this apple was central to Newark cider production before prohibition, and in 1817, Coxe wrote that Harrison commanded the highest price on the New York market as a single-variety cider. (From WSU: Tannin (percent tannic acid): 0.10; Acid (percent malic acid): 0.64; pH: 3.46; SG: 1.061; oBrix 14.6.)

The first Harrison is thought to have been grown by a Mr. Osborne in the early 1700s. These apples were widely grown in Essex County in the early 1800s, but during the 20th century the apple almost disappeared completely, driven almost to the point of extinction by urbanization and lack of interest in cider production. In 1976, the orchardist Paul Gidez happened to stumble across a single tree in Livingston, New Jersey, and in 1989, the pomologist Tom Burford found another Harrison and began to propagate the tree. Thanks to the efforts of these two men Harrison has been resurrected and now enjoys renewed popularity among cider enthusiasts. A more detailed account of this apple's rediscovery can be found in Lost and Found: The Search for the Harrison Apple by Fran McManus.

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This tree is vigorous and very productive; Tom Burford (Apples of North America) states that a single tree can produce about 100 bushels of apples! It will need thinning to maintain annual bearing and it is tip bearing. It is scab resistant and resistant to rot.

Harrison apples are smallish, round, long-stemmed (hence their alternative name "Long Stem"), and yellow. With a smattering of dark spots and a slightly scruffy exterior, this is not going to win any beauty contests. But when pressed, Harrison yields abundant dark, rich juice that contains an excellent balance of tannin, sugar, and acid, and that can be fermented to a single-variety cider. Along with Campfield and Graniwinkle, this apple was central to Newark cider production before prohibition, and in 1817, Coxe wrote that Harrison commanded the highest price on the New York market as a single-variety cider. (From WSU: Tannin (percent tannic acid): 0.10; Acid (percent malic acid): 0.64; pH: 3.46; SG: 1.061; oBrix 14.6.)

The first Harrison is thought to have been grown by a Mr. Osborne in the early 1700s. These apples were widely grown in Essex County in the early 1800s, but during the 20th century the apple almost disappeared completely, driven almost to the point of extinction by urbanization and lack of interest in cider production. In 1976, the orchardist Paul Gidez happened to stumble across a single tree in Livingston, New Jersey, and in 1989, the pomologist Tom Burford found another Harrison and began to propagate the tree. Thanks to the efforts of these two men Harrison has been resurrected and now enjoys renewed popularity among cider enthusiasts. A more detailed account of this apple's rediscovery can be found in Lost and Found: The Search for the Harrison Apple by Fran McManus.


The Fruit

Fruit Type

Category: Apple
Subcategory: Heirloom, Cider, Hot-Climate

Fruit Uses & Storage

Uses: cider
Cider classification: sharp
Storage duration: less than one month (approximate, depending on storage conditions)

Fruit Appearance

Skin color: yellow
Flesh color: off-white

Fruit Origins

Parentage: unknown
Origin: New Jersey
Introduced in: 1700s
Introduced by:

The Environment

Calendar & Geography

USDA zones: 5 - 8
Chill hours: Not yet determined
Ripening date: Oct 20 (approximate, in New York State) + 35 days after McIntosh

Tree Height & Spacing

Rootstock: G.11 Rootstock
Rootstock size class: Dwarf (25% of Standard)
Tree spacing (natural spread of tree): 8'
Good for wildlife planting? N

Diseases & Pests

Apple Scab: Very Resistant
Fireblight: Very Resistant
Cedar-Apple Rust: Very Resistant
Powdery Mildew: Resistant

Pollination

Pollination Factors

Bloom group: 3
Is it self-fertile? N
Is it fertile? Y
Ploidy: Diploid
Rootstock size class: Dwarf (25% of Standard)

Pollination Partners

This table shows the first few results from a full search for pollenizers of Harrison Apple on G.11. Please see our Pollenizer Search to run other queries and read how the application uses various factors. Also read more about fruit tree pollination.

Tree Ships Currently in Stock
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Newtown Pippin Apple on G.11 2024 91
Harry Masters Jersey Apple on G.11 2024 82
Williams' Pride Apple on G.11 2024 66
Ellis Bitter Apple on G.11 2024 59
Binet Rouge Apple on G.41 2024 57
Empire Apple on G.41 2024 52
Fortune Apple Apple on G.11 2024 43

See all pollination matches for Harrison Apple on G.11






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