Russell Stafford
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Northern Spy'
Plant Common Name
Apple, Cider Apple, Cooking Apple, Eating Apple, Northern Spy Apple
General Description
Originating in East Bloomfield, New York, in the early nineteenth century, 'Northern Spy' is renowned for its delectable apples borne on vigorous, cold-hardy trees.
Ripening in early to mid-autumn, the large, rounded, typically flattened fruits have thin, greenish yellow, heavily red-flushed skin. The firm, fine-textured, yellowish-white flesh of this dessert or cooking apple is crisp, juicy, tender, and aromatic, with a robust flavor. The fruits keep well in storage, but require careful handling to avoid bruising. The vigorous, upright trees bear well in alternate years, and are susceptible to scab. Plants do best in cooler climes. For maximum production, plant 'Northern Spy' near another late-blooming apple (such as 'Red Rome').
There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own apple trees. The domestic apple is most commonly a medium-sized tree with a rounded to oval canopy. It originates from southeastern Europe, Siberia, and southwestern Asia and has been in cultivation for thousands of years. In spring, these trees offer sweet, fragrant flowers of light pink, white or rose, and in fall reward us with crisp, juicy apples.
These fruits have a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors and may be eaten out-of-hand, pressed for cider, frozen, canned or baked in a variety of ways. There are thousands of cultivars available, including many interesting heirlooms as well as fresh new varieties. Different selections vary in height and may bear fruit in late summer or fall.
While the domestic apple prefers full sun and well-drained soil, it will tolerate light shade and bouts of drought. For best fruit production, trees must be vigorously pruned and maintained. Apples are susceptible to many pests and diseases, but resistant varieties are available.
Most apples are grafted onto rootstock that provides a wide range of benefits such as vigor, pest and disease resistance and dwarf stature, depending on the stock.
