The Ultimate Guide to Apple Varieties
Welcome to the first blog post from Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard!
We’re ready to give you the inside scoop about everything apple related, what’s happening on our farm, fall harvest, recipes, and so much more! Today, we are going to discuss several of the apple varieties we grow here on the farm. Each apple has its own distinct flavor profile, best uses, and seasonal availability. Whether you’re a seasoned apple enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of orchard delights, this ultimate guide will provide you with everything you need to know about the apples grown at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard.
Gala
Gala apples are a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Kidd’s Orange Red. It’s one of the most widely grown apples in the world! These sweet apples are used for baking and pies. They ripen mid to late August.
Honey Crisp
Honey Crisp apples are wildly popular. They can be difficult to grow and require a lot of calcium. These sweet but slightly tart apples are used for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in late August.
Jonagold
Jonagold apples are a good multipurpose apple and Farmer Rex’s favorite. It is a cross between a Jonathan apple and a Golden Delicious apple. These sweet but slightly tart apples are used for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in early September.
Mutsu
Mutsu apples are a cross between a Golden Delicious apple and an Indo apple, which is a Japanese variety. Many of our customers like to use Mutsu apples to make a nice thick applesauce! They are slightly tart in flavor. They ripen in early September.
Shizuka
Shizuka apples are the sister apple to Mutsu, as they have the same parents! These apples are sweeter than a Mutsu apple. They are used for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in early September.
Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious apples are a favorite of both Farmer Mike’s mother and grandmother. They loved to bake with this sweet apple for an apple pie! These sweet apples ripen in mid September.
Jonathan
Jonathan apples are good pollinators. This is why you find them interspersed with Red Delicious apples in Orchard 1. They are moderately tart and sweet and are used for baking, butter, and sauces. They ripen in mid September.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia apples are the most recently planted variety in our orchard. Our first Ambrosia crop is expected in 2026.
Cameo
Cameo apples have an unknown parentage, but they are thought to come from Red Delicious. They are a sweet apple used for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in mid to late September.
Blushing Gold
Blushing Gold apples are Rita’s favorite! They are tart and sweet in flavor and are used for baking, butter, and pies. They ripen in mid to late September.
Stayman
Stayman apples are an older variety that tends to store well. They are tart and can be used for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in late September.
Rome
Rome apples are late bloomers. They are hardy and relatively easy to grow.
Ludacrisp & Evercrisp
Ludacrisp apples and Evercrisp apples are new varieties in our orchard. Both have Honey Crisp parentage. With their mild flavor, they are used for baking and pies. Ludacrisp ripen in late September and Evercrisp ripen in early October.
Pink Lady
Pink Lady apples are one of Farmer Mike’s favorites and is Danielle’s favorite. Their tart and sweet flavor makes them great for baking, pies, and sauces. They ripen in mid to late October.
Winter Banana
Winter Banana apples are good pollinators. This is why you find them interspersed with Shizuka in Orchard 3. With a tangy flavor, you can use them for baking and pies. They ripen in late October.
Arkansas Black
According to our own JH Stepp, Arkansas Black apples can be “picked at Thanksgiving, shine them up, put them on the table as a Christmas decoration, and they will be ready to eat around the new year.” They are tart and used for baking and pies. They ripen in mid to late October.
We hope you learned a lot about the different kinds of apples we grow here on the farm. Check back for our next blog in May called Agriculture Education: What Students Will Learn on Our Farm Tours.