Spring 2024
Keepers NurseryThe UK's largest range of Fruit Trees
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Jonathan

An old American dessert apple. Red flushed, crisp, juicy and sweet but with plenty of refreshing acidity.

Origin: USA, 1826

Pollination: Jonathan is partially self-fertile and would produce some crop without a pollinator but would benefit considerably from a pollinator.  Pollination partners

We are now closed for the season. Ordering for winter 2024/25 will be enabled from Wednesday 1st May 2024.

History and description of Jonathan

Jonathan apple arose on the farm of Philip Rick, Woodstock, Ulster County, New York, USA. Believed to be an Esopus Spitzenburg seedling. Described 1826. Judge Buel, President of Albany Horticultural Society, named it after Jonathan Hasbrouck, the man who first drew his attention to the tree. Exhibited in England in 1864 at the RHS by the famous nurseryman Thomas Rivers. Widely grown in the USA and the warmer apple-producing regions of the world.

A medium sized apple. Oblong to round-conical shape, ribbed and slightly five-crowned. Half to three-quarters flushed bright crimson with scattered broken red stripes on pale yellow. White flesh, slightly green tinged. Crisp, juicy and sweet with plenty of refreshing acidity. A dual purpose apple, good for pies and sauces. A weeping tree of moderate vigour. Good cropper. Prone to mildew.

Characteristics of Jonathan apple trees

UseDual Cul & Des
ColourRed
FlavourSweet
Fruit sizeMedium
Picking timeEarly Oct
Season of useNov-Jan
Tree vigourModerate
Tree habitUpright-spreading
Fruit-bearingSpur-bearer
CroppingGood
Disease resistanceMildew - Very susceptible
Canker - Susceptible
Scab - Susceptible
Pollination date10
Pollination groupC
Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
PollinatorsPollination partners
ParentageEsopus Spitzenburg
ProgenyIdared
Jonagold
Jumbo
Karmijn de Sonnaville
Kent
Melrose
Prins Bernhard
Saturn