Enterprise is a good example of a modern apple developed specifically for disease resistance. Its parentage is complex, and involved cross-breeding a large number of varieties including McIntosh, Golden Delicious, and Rome Beauty - as well as the ubiquitous crab apple Malus floribunda, a well-known source of a gene for scab-resistance. It is probably closest to McIntosh in overall appearance, although this is not a "Mac" style apple and it does not have the vinous flavor associated with Macs.
The apples are a glossy red color, ripening in late October. They can be stored for 3-6 months in a domestic fridge. The skin is quite thick and tough - which helps resist insects and infections. Whilst Enterprise is good for eating fresh, it is perhaps even better as a cooking apple where its tart flavor can be used to advantage.
Being easy to grow and with versatile uses, Enterprise has rapidly established itself as a popular garden apple variety. Its good disease resistance makes it an excellent choice for growers who favor an organic or (better still) a no-spray regime
More details about this variety are available on the joint Purdue University / Rutgers University / University of Illinois website - click here.
Enterprise apple identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Enterprise
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.
Parents and other ancestors of this variety
Offspring of this variety
Visitor reviews
- 16 Apr 2023Have not had the pleasure of trying the apples from this variety but have had zero disease problems with it so far. One on a rootstock from Grandpa's orchard has been less than vigorous but a second one I grafted myself onto a seedling has grown really well. Can't wait to try the apples from this variety. For Ken Meter, apples and cross naturally all the time. No genetic engineering was used to create this variety.
- 09 Feb 2023From this description it appears that genetic modification has been used to insert crabapple genetics into the Enterprise variety. If so, how can these apples, or Cosmic Crisp derived from Enterprise, be labelled as "organic"?
- 20 Nov 2022Need to know the flowering period for this apple in order to be able to ensure can cross pollinate with apples that flower around that same time. Not found listed at all.
- 16 Dec 2014 MAINE, United StatesA top U-Pick apple: great baking and storing qualities, great flavor, hangs very well, a long one-month harvest window. However, contrary to the literature, the leaves at least are not particularly resistant to the Cedar Apple Rust in our area. That said, it is one of the easiest apples to grow.
- 28 Sep 2014 CT, United StatesI ate some of these today and enjoyed the sweet flavor. The apples were large and very red.
- 26 Jan 2013 WASHINGTON, United StatesI really enjoyed eating this apple. Nice balance of sweet and tart. Large apple, and thick skinned.
- 22 Sep 2012 ILLINOIS, United StatesThis is a great apple. I have had a semi-dwarf tree that has borne for over ten years and it never fails me. Apples look great and taste great and keep for at least six months. It has had apples when no one elses trees have had any.
- 05 May 2012 VIRGINIA, BEDFORD, United StatesI just moved to Virginia last year. The tree was here. Needed pruning bad. I lightened it substantially in February. A lot of blooms early because of the warm weather. Does anyone think this will be an early harvest. The apples are already the size of a cherry tomato Any advice? A lot of apples the tree is very mature 22 feet high 20 feet across. J.
- 16 Oct 2011 NY, United StatesMy 3 year old Enterprise tree bore it's first apple this year. A single apple. I had read several reviews of Enterprise that rated it's taste as average to good with thick skin. I was pleasantly surprised. Quite tasty and fairly tangy. It was quite red, but probably could have stood on the tree a bit longer. The skin is thick, similar to Mutsu. Very firm and crunchy. Very easy to grow so far and very disease resistant although aphids seem to prefer it over other apples.
- 15 Feb 2011 WA, United StatesThis is an outstanding apple! I have 1 tree that is over 10 years old and it reliably produces every year, even when all the rest of the trees have no apples (2010 summer). We don't spray or treat our trees with anything, just pruning. All other trees we have get scab except Enterprise. Apples keep until Thanksgiving and Christmas and are excellent for cooking pies. Skin gets progressively more wax in storage. They are "ok" for fresh eating, not bad, just not fantastic. Highly recommended for ease of growing and beautiful apples that keep!
Tree register
United States
- Albany Appleguy in Castleton, NY
- Alicia Collins in Montclair, NJ
- Amanda Gajdzik in SHELBYVILLE, KY
- Andrew Karvel in Lansing, IOWA
- Annette in Wading River, NEW YORK
- Brian Lance in Marion, ILLINOIS
- Carl Thomas in Schaumburg, ILLINOIS
- Charlie Holderman in BONNERS FERRY, IDAHO, IDAHO
- Chris in MILFORD, IA
- Cory Lusk in Loveland, HAMILTON/OHIO
- Craig Sheehan in Winchester, KY
- Crazyed in Oxford, WI
- Crazyed in Oxford, WI
- Crazyed in Oxford, WI
- Crazyed in Oxford, WI
- Crazyed in Oxford, WI
- Darren Peters in Rock Spring, GEORGIA
- Eric in Winslow, ARKANSAS
- Florian Deisenhofer in Brush Prairie, CLARK COUNTY WA
- George Cochran in Maple City, MI
- Gil Schieber in Snohomish, WA
- Grouchybroad in Kirksville, MISSOURI
- J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, MO
- J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, MO
- Janet Palmer in Olathe, KANSAS/JOHNSON
- Janice Emmons in Canton, ILLINOIS
- Jeff Hansen in Letcher, SD
- Joe & Rachel Bender in Albion, INDIANA / NOBLE
- Joe & Rachel Bender in ALBION, INDIANA / NOBLE
- Justin in Charlottesville, INDIANA
- Karen In Wa in Quilcene, WA
- Katie Donnelly in East Branch, NY
- Katie Donnelly in EAST BRANCH, NY
- Kekozlow in WHITING, IN
- Kelsey l Naffziger in BEAVERTON, OR
- Kelsey Naffziger in BEAVERTON, OR
- Kurt in Ladysmith, WI - WISCONSIN
- Mark A. Rock in Columbia Station, OHIO
- Matt in New London, MN
- Mike Nordberg in Cedar Rapids, IA
- Monika Bawdon in Denver, CO
- Mrs. G in Newport, RI
- Paul Schmidt in TAZEWELL, TN
- Paul Gerrish in Newbury, MA
- Peter in Johnson City, TN
- Phillip Hatcher in Sand Springs, OKLAHOMA
- Phillip Hatcher in Sand Springs, OKLAHOMA
- Rachel Persing in Shoreline, WASHINGTON
- Ray in Staatsburg, NY / DUTCHESS
- Richard Grace in Decatur, ILLINOIS/MACON
- Rob Bryant in MONTICELLO, IN
- Ron Davis in CHUCKEY, TN
- Ron Fischer in Orion, IL.
- Ryan in Sterling, NY
- Steven Sypkens in Turney, MO
- Surik Mehrabyan in ITHACA, NEW YORK
- Terry Graham in Tumwater, WA
- Tim Hayes in Omaha, NEBRASKA
Spring blossom records for this variety
2022 season
- 2nd May 2022 - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States
2021 season
- 8th May 2021 - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States
2020 season
- 15th May 2020 - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States
2019 season
- 27th April 2019 - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States
2018 season
- 29th April 2018 - tree owned by Monika in Denver, United States
- 25th April 2018 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
2017 season
- 10th May 2017 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
2015 season
- March 2015 - tree owned by Phillip in Sand Springs, United States
2014 season
- 23rd April 2014 - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
- 23rd April 2014 - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
- 23rd April 2014 - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
2013 season
- 23rd May 2013 - tree owned by Mrs. in Newport, United States
- 6th May 2013 - tree owned by Rachel in Shoreline, United States
- 30th April 2013 - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
- 20th April 2013 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
2012 season
- 8th May 2012 - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States
- 25th April 2012 - tree owned by Rachel in Shoreline, United States
- 25th April 2012 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
- 29th March 2012 - tree owned by Janice in Canton, United States
- 21st March 2012 - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
2011 season
- 26th May 2011 - tree owned by Karen in Quilcene, United States
- 19th May 2011 - tree owned by Ron in Orion, United States
- May 2011 - tree owned by Rachel in Shoreline, United States
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
2018 season
- 3rd week October 2018 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
2017 season
- 4th week October 2017 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
2015 season
- October 2015 - tree owned by Phillip in Sand Springs, United States
2013 season
- 3rd week October 2013 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
- 2nd week October 2013 - tree owned by Mrs. in Newport, United States
- 1st week October 2013 - tree owned by Grouchybroad in Kirksville, United States
2012 season
- 4th week October 2012 - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
- 3rd week September 2012 - tree owned by Janice in Canton, United States
2011 season
- 2nd week September 2011 - tree owned by J.P.Curry in Sturgeon, United States
2010 season
- October 2010 - tree owned by Rachel in Shoreline, United States
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Originates from: United States
- Introduced: 1994
- Developed by: Joint breeding programme of Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations.
Identification
- Country of origin: United States
- Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
- Fruit colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Green
- Popularity: Best sellers
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
Using
- Picking season: Very late
- Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
- Discoloration of fruit: Very oxidising (browns quickly)
- Cropping: Good
- Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Food uses: Culinary
- Picking period: late October
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 4
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Vigorous
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Organic culture: Suitable
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Climate
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 4 (-34C)
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Climate suitability: Warm climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
- Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
- Fire blight: Very resistant
- Powdery mildew: Some resistance
- Cedar apple rust: Some resistance
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Enterprise apple trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
Enterprise apple trees
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Enterprise:
United States
Alabama
- Isom Orchards, Athens
Arizona
- Beatty's Orchard, Hereford
Arkansas
- Cox Berry Farm & Nursery, Clarksville
Connecticut
- Autumn Harvest Orchard LLC, Norfolk
Georgia
- Freedom Farms - Apple & Peach Orchard, Chatsworth
Illinois
- Liberty Apple Orchard, Edwardsville
Indiana
- County Line Orchard, Hobart
- Crosby's Orchard, Lawrenceburg
- HighPoint Orchard & Farm Market, Greensburg
- Harker Family Farms & Orchard, Waldron
Iowa
- Allen's Orchard, Marion
- Appleberry Farm, Marshalltown
- Applecart Orchard, Vinton
- Ditmars Orchard, Council Bluffs
- The Wallace Centers of Iowa, Orient
- Wills Family Orchard, Adel
- Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City
Kentucky
- Brandywine Orchard, Guthrie
- Evans Orchard & Cider Mill, Georgetown
Maine
- Plowshares Community Farm, Gorham
Massachusetts
- Park Hill Orchard, Easthampton
- Phil's Apples, Harvard
Michigan
Missouri
- Hickory Ridge Orchard, Mexico
- Sunshine Valley Farm, Rogersville
Nebraska
- Union Orchard, Union
New Hampshire
- Apple Annie, Brentwood
Ohio
- Charlie's Apples at Windy Hill Apple Farm, Newark
- CherryHawk Farm, Marysville
- Hidden Hills Orchard, Marietta
Oklahoma
- High-Fence Farm LLC, Sand Springs
Pennsylvania
- Andrews Farm Market, Saint Thomas
- Brown's Orchard and Cider Company, McDonald
Virginia
- Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market, Winchester
- Sweet Rose Farm, Blue Grass
Wisconsin
- Rush River Orchard and Bakery, Ellsworth
References
- Cedar-Apple Rust
Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
Rated as very resistant - no control needed against CAR.