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
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
1-year Empire apple trees bare-root
Large (10ft-16ft) mature height
$29.00
You can pre-order trees now for delivery when shipping starts (fall for warmer zones, or next spring), you won't be asked to pay until nearer the time.
*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
CortlandDeveloped from McIntosh, Cortland is one of the most widely-grown Mac-style apples.
EnterpriseEnterprise is a modern American disease-resistant apple, good for eating fresh and cooking.
MacounMacoun is one of the best McIntosh-style apples, with the characteristic flowery vinous flavor.
