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Empire Apple on G.11 (Spring 2024)


A very popular cross of McIntosh and Red Delicious. Also known as NY 45500-5.

Empire is a vigorous and precocious tree with an attractive, spreading growth habit. It is susceptible to scab, mildew, and bitter rot, but somewhat resistant to fireblight and cedar-apple rust. Thinning is recommended for optimal productivity and fruit size.

Two of the most popular apples in 1945 were Red Delicious and McIntosh, so what could be better than a cross of these two varieties! Of the thousands of crosses made, Empire was finally selected and released in 1966. It is firmer and darker than McIntosh, with a red skin that deepens to purple, and it also has a longer storage life than that of its parent. The flesh of Empire is creamy white with a snappy texture and a sweet, tangy flavor. Amy Traverso in The Apple Lovers' Cookbook compares the flavor to "rosehip tea with honey." The juice has some utility in cider blending.

This apple has become one of the most commonly cultivated apples in America. Empire is an excellent lunchbox apple. Kids love them.

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Empire is a vigorous and precocious tree with an attractive, spreading growth habit. It is susceptible to scab, mildew, and bitter rot, but somewhat resistant to fireblight and cedar-apple rust. Thinning is recommended for optimal productivity and fruit size.

Two of the most popular apples in 1945 were Red Delicious and McIntosh, so what could be better than a cross of these two varieties! Of the thousands of crosses made, Empire was finally selected and released in 1966. It is firmer and darker than McIntosh, with a red skin that deepens to purple, and it also has a longer storage life than that of its parent. The flesh of Empire is creamy white with a snappy texture and a sweet, tangy flavor. Amy Traverso in The Apple Lovers' Cookbook compares the flavor to "rosehip tea with honey." The juice has some utility in cider blending.

This apple has become one of the most commonly cultivated apples in America. Empire is an excellent lunchbox apple. Kids love them.


The Fruit

Fruit Type

Category: Apple
Subcategory: Cider, Cold-Hardy, Hot-Climate

Fruit Uses & Storage

Uses: fresh eating, cider, baking
Cider classification: sweet
Storage duration: one to three months (approximate, depending on storage conditions)

Fruit Appearance

Skin color: red
Flesh color: cream

Fruit Origins

Parentage: Red Delicious x McIntosh
Origin: Geneva, NY
Introduced in: 1966
Introduced by: Cornell University, A. J. Heinicke and Lester C. Anderson

The Environment

Calendar & Geography

USDA zones: 4 - 7
Chill hours: 800
Ripening date: Sep 29 (approximate, in New York State) + 14 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 Susceptible
Fireblight: Resistant
Powdery Mildew: Susceptible
Cedar-Apple Rust: Resistant
Bitter Rot: Susceptible

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 Empire 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
Enterprise Apple on G.41 2024 256
Crimson® Topaz CV. Apple on G.11 2024 124
Brown's Apple Apple on G.11 2024 122
Gala Apple on B.9 2024 97
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
CrimsonCrisp™ Apple on G.11 2024 43
Fortune Apple Apple on G.11 2024 43

See all pollination matches for Empire Apple on G.11






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