Our Variety Assessment

Its strengths, growing requirements and the conditions in which it performs best.

Jonathan is an old American variety valued for its intense aroma and lively sweet-sharp flavour. The firm, juicy flesh is excellent for fresh eating, baking, sauces and juice. The tree begins cropping young and suits family orchards. Storage is moderate rather than exceptional, and the cultivar can be susceptible to mildew and several other diseases in damp climates.

Jonathan

Price range: 26,50 € through 59,75 €

Jonathan is one of the best-flavoured American apple varieties, and a good choice for the home orchard.

Pre-orders are open

No payment today. You are reserving your trees before the inventory in early August.

After inventory, we will confirm the available trees and send you a payment link.

Dispatch generally takes place from late November to February, depending on the weather and the progress of lifting the trees.

Choose your tree form

1 year old grafted tree – approx. 1–2 m

Half-standard – 1 to 1.5 m stem

Low-stem tree – approx. 60 cm stem

Standard tree – 1.8 m stem and over

Apple rootstock options

Bittenfelder – approx. 6 m mature height

EM9 – approx. 2.5 m mature height

M116 – approx. 4 m mature height

MM111 – approx. 4 m mature height

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Tree size guide

Tree Establishment Guarantee — We support you if your tree fails to establish. View the conditions

SKU: 4323 Categories: Apple trees, Eating apple trees

Description

Jonathan is a classic 19th century American apple variety, noted for its high quality flavour. It rewards being eaten fresh between October and Christmas, but is a good keeper and a good variety for the kitchen.

Jonathan apples were exported to England in the Victorian era, and the 19th century English pomologist Robert Hogg rated it as “a very fine dessert apple“.

Variety characteristics

Variety origin

Old American variety discovered in the 19th century in New York State, probably from a seedling of Esopus Spitzenburg.

Origin

Period of origin

USDA zone

Flowering

Eating / keeping period

Use

Sweetness / acidity

Disease resistance

Self-fertility

Partially self-fertile

Pollinator value

Good pollinizer

Ploidy

Diploid

Origin and identity

Parentage

Probable seedling of Esopus Spitzenburg

Synonyms

King Philip, Ulster Seedling

Growth and adaptation

Vigour and habit

Medium vigour, spreading habit, good production but demanding in terms of disease management

Disease behaviour

Scab

Susceptible

Powdery mildew

Very susceptible

Canker

Moderately susceptible

Pollination

Compatible pollinating varieties

For reliable fruit set, plant at least one variety with a compatible flowering period nearby. Flowering period: 3 - mid season.

Monty’s Surprise View this variety

Luche View this variety Golden Delicious View this variety

Reinette Abry View this variety Queen Cox View this variety

Reinette de Hollande View this variety

Additional variety information for Jonathan is provided in partnership with Orange Pippin.