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Orange Pippin Trees USA logoSpecialist fruit trees for your orchard or back-yard

Akane apple tree

Akane
Akane is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Pollination group: 4

One of the best early-season apples, Akane is a marriage between the American Jonathan apple and the English Worcester Pearmain. In appearance it most closely resembles the Worcester Pearmain. For an early apple variety it has an unusually good balanced flavor, reflecting the influence of the high quality Jonathan.

Akane ripens late August - early September. Like most early varieties the apples do not keep that long, however they hang on the tree rather than falling and cropping can therefore take place over a number of weeks. For the best flavor leave to ripen fully. Akane can also be used for summer apple cookery, slices will keep their shape when cooked.

We do not produce that many Akane trees, but if we are out of stock, try one of its close relatives, Sansa.

Akane apple trees for sale

  • 1Semi-dwarf 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
    Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
    G.935 rootstock
    Out of stock
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  • 2Semi-standard 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
    Mature height: 10ft-16ft after 10 years
    Semi-vigorous rootstock
    Out of stock
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How to grow

Akane is not a heavy cropper, but it is generally reliable. It is quite precocious and it comes into bearing on the more dwarf rootstocks after 2-3 years.

Fruit size can be small - it is a good idea to thin the fruitlets in late spring to encourage fewer / larger apples. This will also improve the flavor.

Akane can be considered a low-chill variety and is therefore suitable for warm climates up to USDA zone 9.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Developed at the Morioka Experimental Station, Japan, 1937. A cross between Jonathan and Worcester Pearmain. Sometimes known as Tokyo Rose.

Akane characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Pollination group4
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • UsesEating freshCulinaryJuice
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • General resistanceGood
  • FireblightSome resistance
  • ScabSome resistance
  • Cedar apple rustSome resistance
  • MildewSome resistance
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 4 (-34C)
  • Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Hot (>30C / 86F)
  • Chill requirementLow-chill
  • Country of originJapan
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Fruit colorRed