Harrison

Harrison cider apple tree is an old American cider apple variety from New Jersey. It was already mentioned in the eighteenth century and was once considered one of the finest cider apples in the American colonies.

After being largely forgotten during the twentieth century, Harrison was rediscovered in the 1970s and has since become a reference variety for high-quality craft cider production.

The fruit is medium-sized, rounded and slightly conical, with golden yellow skin washed with orange-red on the sun-exposed side. The flesh is amber-yellow, firm, sweet and bittersweet.

Harvest takes place from late October to November. The apples store well, up to February in a cool place.

Harrison produces a golden, full-bodied and aromatic cider, with good roundness and a soft bitterness. Its juice is naturally rich in sugar and tannins, giving structure and balance.

The variety has medium vigour, comes into bearing quickly, and is productive and regular, with little tendency to biennial bearing.

Flowering is mid-season. Harrison has good general hardiness, good tolerance to scab and low sensitivity to powdery mildew.

It is well suited to temperate climates and also performs in slightly continental areas. It prefers well-drained loamy or clay-loam soils.

We supply Harrison cider apple trees bare-root from November to March, on rootstocks adapted to soil conditions, desired vigour and orchard density.