SummerMac is an early summer apple ripening in late August and a few weeks before regular McIntosh. The fruit is medium to large and has the appearance of a McIntosh, although not as aromatic and tasty as a regular Mac. The fruit will keep fairly well. It is a nicely colored red apple. Good for fresh eating, cooking, and sauce.

SummerMac is another name for a seedling discovered by the Arends family in the famous apple region called Fruit Ridge, north of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grandpa was selling trees to the grower when he was first shown this apple growing on a fence row. He was really impressed with its quality at that time of the summer, and tried to get the nursery he was selling for to get the rights to the apple and patent it. To Grandpa's consternation, they didn't take the interest that they should have and a competing nursery patented it and introduced it as Paulared(R). It went on to make them a lot of money when it became one of the most widely planted new apples in Michigan in the 1960s and 1970s.

SummerMac is a very precosious and productive tree. It is easy to grow and maintain. Somewhat upright, but with nice strong limbs that spread out from its central leader. It is a very early blooming tree and should be pollinated with other early bloomers. It is susceptible to fire blight, so do not grow too vigorously.

Height

10-16

Spread

10-14

Zone

4-7

Color

Bright red

Categories

Apple--- Hardy Varieties, 

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