Chehalis apple

USDA identification images for Chehalis

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Visitor reviews

• 08 Oct 2019  WA, United States

  We have a Chehalis apple tree on property purchased in 2016. The tree is at least that old and still has a tag on it. It produced a couple of small apples in 2017 and 2018 until this year, when it produced 4 large apples. I just ate the first one. It tasted like a ripe Bartlett pear - sweet with just a bit of tartness. It was softer than I prefer, so I have rated it very good rather than excellent.
• 12 Sep 2019  WA, United States

  This apple is always reliable in my orchard. Yes it can be a tart apple if you pull or twist them off the tree. However here we are in September and I go out and just lift my apples, if they pop in you hand their pretty much ready. Just a simple lift of the apple seems to do the trick. They can be sweet when caught at the right time. Pretty much a meal of an apple when ready. I grafted this tree form scion wood from Raintree nursery to semi dwarf crab apple rootstock.
• 28 Sep 2017  BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada

  Not tart at all. In fact crisp and slightly sweet, don't recall a better tasting apple. Perhaps due to being very fresh: just picked it off my young tree thinking I had left it too late (late Sept). But apparently not for southern Vancouver island and a partial sun location.
• 10 May 2017  WASHINGTON, United States

  I would like to know what varieties are the pollinator for Chehalis apple.
• 05 Mar 2013  WASHINGTON, United States

  In 1995 we bought some property that was and old Dairy.On this propertyit had 13 trees ,there is 2 Chehalis Apple trees. We have had alot of apples every.They do make great pies and great for eating. These trees are at least 60 years old.We do have clay soil. We do our one pruning and care. We were hoping to find some where to get some new young trees.these are so old that they do have hollow spots. Are there any new trees available? Thank you.
• 17 Sep 2012  WASHINGTON, United States

  My Chehalis apple tree is about ten years old. It slowly gave a few more apples every year, and this year I had a great crop of big, juicy apples. I am still trying to figure out when to pick, but I think I got it right this year. The fruit has a nice tartness the first few days after picking, and develops more sweetness, but after 5 days the flesh starts to get soft. Great for pies when fresh, and later for applesauce, no sugar needed. I used some fruit tree fertilizer spikes in the spring, but don't do anything else to the tree except water it. Almost all 40 or so pounds were clean & pretty. I live in a low lying area near a lake, ground is quite wet in winter. I love my Chehalis apple tree.
• 05 Sep 2012  WASHINGTON, United States

  The following link had interesting reading on the Chehalis. It mentions that there is no blushing ...but mine is blushing ...growing a young tree with only one apple on it this year. The link mentions it is slow to fruit ..but being the second year, I removed a lot of starts after the bloom. It's the 5th of Sept, 2012 ..haven't picked my lone apple yet ...trying to figure out the best time ..which looks to be soon. http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/14209/ec1334.pdf?sequence=1 They mention picking BEFORE the fruit turns completely yellow.
• 29 Aug 2011  WA., United States

  I like the chehalis, it can be tart if you pick too soon. I tried one today, 8 28 2011. very good, but 2 more weeks and they will be sweet. great apple pie stuff.
• 23 Jul 2011  WA, United States

  I would agree with Cris's assessment - while I have not personally tasted the Chehalis apple, I have a first hand report and have read many other reports that it is rather tart. Apparently, nurseries are advertising it as "sweet," while at the same time using a cut and paste to get and print their description of the apple - thus perpetuating what has become a myth. Two other misnomers are that the Chehalis apple was discovered as a chance seedling in 1957, while the best information I have is that it was discovered as a chance seedling in 1937, and that the variety is highly resistant to scab, which I believe to be a sales exaggeration. There are two write-ups on the Chehalis apple - one in the Journal of the American Pomological Society: Volume 21 Number 1 Article 7 Year 1967 Month 1 Title: The Chehalis Apple Author: C.D. Schwartze to which I have no access, and another in Apple Cultivars of South Sound, Robert A. Norton and Jacqueline King, (http://whatcom.wsu.edu/mgtemp/classes/home_orchards/eb1436.pdf) Which describes the Chehalis apple as "mild subacid," and agreeing with Chris that it doesn't last long on the tree. Incidentally, Norton and King's publication contains an excellent section on terms for properly describing an apple. Chris, thank you very much for your comments and advice on handling mildew in your area.
• 21 Jul 2011  WA, United States

  Chehalis is sweet? I have made apple pie and cider with this apple. On a good year, one apple can be a meal. But sweet? I have found it to be quite tart. Maybe it's my soil, but I have some doubts about that. This apple was grown in an area about sixty miles north from my location. They entire orchard was chopped down five years later due to mildew problems. I spent twenty years trying to solve this problem with my tree and I have finally had success. I would recommend this tree for an area that is not too damp and wet. But it can be grown in a wetter climate such as mine as long as you treat the tree with a mildew preventative just after the blossoms have set. If you want the tree to remain organic, try using the formula in "The Apple Grower." I think they use hydrogen peroxide. Personally, I have had success with "Immunox." I have a good crop almost every single year since I have started using this product. Harvest quickly! This apple does not stick around very long.

Tree register

• Map view
• Register your trees

• United States20
• United Kingdom1

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Chehalis:

United States

• Oregon

  • Haury Farms, Salem

• Washington

  • Muscle and Arm Farm, Freeland
  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Cattleana Ranch, Poygan Township/Omro

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Dragonfly Farm, Salt Spring Island
  • Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island
  • Starry Night Meadows Farm, Mayne Island