Empire apple trees

Gardening skill: Suitable for beginners
Picking season: Late
Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
Pollination group: 3
Uses: Eating fresh
Uses: Juice

List of other varieties that will pollinate Empire

Empire was developed in the 1940s as a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious and soon established itself as one of the top McIntosh-style apples.

As with most McIntosh crosses, the contribution of the other parent remains in the background, and Empire has all the usual McIntosh characteristics - crimson skin, bright white glistening flesh, and "that" flavor, the dessert-wine taste which is the hallmark of the McIntosh line. However Red Delicious can also be quite scented in its own right and many argue that Empire improves on the Mac in this respect.

Empire apple trees for sale

Item

Mature height*

Price

Quantity

1-year Empire apple trees bare-root

Large (10ft-16ft) mature height

$29.00

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*Find out more about the apple rootstocks we use to control the mature height.

How to grow

As with many of the McIntosh offspring, Empire is a heavy producer and will readily set a large crop of small apples if you let it - thin the crop just after blossom is over to get fewer but larger apples and better flavor. Apart from that, there are few issues with Empire. Be on your guard for scab, to which it is susceptible, but it is generally problem-free.

Empire likes a climate with warm autumn sunshine and cool autumn nights, and may not achieve the right texture south of zone 7. Even so its range is better than McIntosh.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

Historical details

Developed at the New York Agricultural Experiment station, Geneva. McIntosh x Red Delicious.

Empire characteristics

Using

Picking season: Late
Uses: Eating fresh Juice
Cropping: Heavy
Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
Flavor style (apples): Vinous
Fruit persistence: Normal ripening

Growing

Gardening skill: Suitable for beginners
Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
Pollination group: 3
Pollinating others: Average
Ploidy: Diploid
Vigour: Average vigour
Bearing regularity: Regular
Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer

Disease resistance

Cedar apple rust: Some resistance
Fireblight: Some resistance
Mildew: Some resistance
Scab: Some susceptibility

Climate

Cold hardiness (USDA): (4) -30F / -34C
Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20C - 24C / 68F - 75F) Warm (25C - 30C / 76F - 85F)

Identification

Country of origin: United States
Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
Fruit color: Crimson

Similar varieties

Cortland
Developed from McIntosh, Cortland is one of the most widely-grown Mac-style apples.
Enterprise
Enterprise is a modern American disease-resistant apple, good for eating fresh and cooking.
Macoun
Macoun is one of the best McIntosh-style apples, with the characteristic flowery vinous flavor.