Spartan Apple

Malus domestica 'Spartan'

Spartan was always one of Grandpa's favorites. It is very McIntosh-like looking and tasting, but is much firmer and keeps better. It picks a couple weeks later in the early fall. The fruit is medium to large, with a dark red mahogany color and a metallic sheen like McIntosh. The flesh is pure white, firm, aromatic, and finely flavored. It is a good dessert and sauce apple.

Spartan was bred in British Columbia and introduced in 1936. It was a cross of McIntosh and Newtown Pippen. Grandpa thought highly of it because it performed better than McIntosh on his farm.

Spartan is a early and heavy bearer. It is typically an annual producer, but overcropping can reduce next year's crop somewhat. While called somewhat self-pollinating, it will benefit by being pollinated with other mid-season bloomers. It seems to be somewhat resistant to scab, mildew and fire blight.