Spartan apple

Spartan apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Spartan

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

• 20 Oct 2024 

  We have this apple tree in our garden and it is the BEST apple I've ever eaten, so crispy, juicy and delicious! 🍎 Incredible.
• 19 Oct 2023 

  Just discovered the Suess-Looking tree in my daughter's yard is a Spartan apple tree. Been eatijg apples all my Life and this one is truly the best in flavor, crunch and size to eat. Love love them. They are adjacent to the Ice Age Trail in tye Monches WI area.
• 10 Sep 2023 

  This apple is glorious. Great for a small garden and prolific in crop. However, it can be prone to wasp damage and can rot on the tree quickly. 2022 was the best year yet, but 2023 has been very disappointing. The cold and wet spring/early summer may be the cause.
• 03 Nov 2019  SLOVAKIA, Slovakia

  This apple is my personal No1 (along with Gravenstein apple, too). Two years ago I was lucky to buy a house with a nice garden. The previous owner planted three Spartan apple trees some 30 years ago. Last year I harvested around 700kg (cca 1500 lbs) of these apples. Every single day during the harvest season, I was looking forward to come back from my work to go immediately to my garden, to pick up one or two to eat them fresh directly from the tree. these apples are beautifully candy sweet with a hint of tropical fruit and ticklish yet balanced tart. They are exceptionally juicy with pleasant smell and beautiful look. What else do you require from the PERFECT APPLE??? I also made great must and cider from them. I do not know how in the USA, but in Slovakia we are allowed to bring your own fermented shreded fruits, or juice to a local destillery (you just have to pay alcohol tax and some fees to destillery depending from the volume you produce). So I shreded my Spartan apples with Golden Delicious apples (cca 3/1 ratio) to ferment them to make apple brandy. I have to say It was worth the effort, since I got 70 litres (cca 18,5 gallons) of finest delicious 52% volume brandy. During the winter time it is great to add some to improve my hot tea, lovely on rocks, or even straight . Also a nice gift for my family and friends. :-)
• 07 Jul 2019  ANGUS, United Kingdom

  Crops well every year with me in eastern Scotland. blossom resists our late frosts and I have yet to see any problems of scab or canker, my trees get plenty of wind and I am on a sandy free draining soil which is probably why. I have seen other Spartans elsewhere with awful canker so maybe it prefers lighter soils? They are a good breakfast apple with a light perfume flavour
• 27 Jan 2019  SASKATCHEWAN, Canada

  I mistakenly ( how does one do that) bought a bag of the Spartan variety apples from.local Costco store. Ok...I am a diehard McIntosh fan; love the hard white flesh and the absolute tartness. The apples are a reasonable medium size ,good red color overall, flesh clear white, juicy,sweet, the taste,for me in the circumstances, I found too much hint of pear ( which is what told me it wasnt the mac I thought). As other eaters/ posters have commented an excellent apple in it's own right and one I am sure children would love.
• 31 Oct 2016  WILTSHIRE, United Kingdom

  This is probably my favourite eating apple, which surprises me as I normally don't like McIntosh-style apples at all. In fact this is the apple the McIntosh probably wishes it could be - sweet and acid in really good balance with a hint of burnt caramel, almost toffee-apple flavour. Grows well and always gives a good crop.
• 02 Nov 2015  HERTS, United Kingdom

  Yuk too sweet and not enough acidity for my taste.
• 24 Jul 2014  ALBERTA, Canada

  The Spartan is by far my favorite apple. I found our stores are carrying so many different varieties of apples but the Spartan is hard to find. WHY? Nothing compares to it!
• 30 Aug 2013  OR, United States

  I love this apple! I grow about 8 or 10 different kinds of apples, and this one is ALWAYS the best producer AND the one tree that is the least affected by scab or insects (I only spray minimally). Plus it has the most beautiful fruit while on the tree. An all around winner!
• 15 Jan 2013  NY, United States

  Brent - a sweet apple with a crisp bright white flesh. also has a very small core which means more appley goodness for you to enjoy.
• 19 Mar 2012  TX, United States

  Just tried my first Spartan. This is March and it was a bit mealy from storage, but the flavor was excellent. Very reminiscent of a Mac--sweet and tart together. Bet it's fantastic right off the tree!
• 01 Dec 2011  FIFE, United Kingdom

  I have just eaten one of the tastiest apples out of a Sainsbury family pack, I never thought that I would be so interested to find out what type of apple it was . The Spartan now has my vote for a snack or an addition to a ploughman's lunch.
• 22 Oct 2011  OREGON, United States

  We just bought our tree last week and planted it. Hopefully next year it will bear fruit.
• 20 Oct 2011  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom

  My Spartan remain very healthy and completely pest and disease-free (Eastern UK) despite the claims that they are supposed to be prone to canker or other diseases - but perhaps that will come as the trees age. The tree itself is about medium vigour or perhaps slightly less than medium if allowed to crop heavily at a young age - which can happen because it is quite precocious and fertile. The fruit is remarkably free from pest or fungal damage, although if the skin (which is quite thick and has a yeasty "bloom") is broken, the fruits succumb surprisingly quickly to brown rot. With us having an unusually warm spring followed by an unusually cool summer, the fruits have been of inferior quality this year; developing the notorious "metallic" and "woody" taste (woody as in the taste when you lick your ice-lolly stick) which can happen occasionally. In most years, the Spartan fruit produced here is good, and palatable to most people; fairly sweet and juicy, with hints of melon and strawberry. Fruit tends to lose its quality after a few months of storage - tasting fermented and losing its texture, although, like Red Delicious, can still look excellent on the outside.
• 05 Oct 2009  United Kingdom

  I purchased some of these the other day from a farmers market, who come to our local town once a month. This is the first time that I have tried them and they were recommended and I must admit they were absolutely gorgeous.
• 23 Aug 2009  United Kingdom

  I have a family apple tree where Spartan is the dominant apple. It is usually a prolific flowerer/fruiter with the odd year off for recuperation. Although the apple is good, every year I lose most of the crop due to a worm parasite which seems to burrow into virtually evey apple on the tree. For this reason, most of the apples end up in pies or discarded.
• 16 Mar 2009  VANCOUVER, Canada

  My neighbour has one in his garden and it fruits well and is resistent to the typical Pacific Northwest crop of diseases. Tastey too.
• 24 Oct 2008 

  spartan its very good apple variety.
• 06 Oct 2008  CREWE, United Kingdom

  Have 4 spartan in my garden. Oldest one is now 5 years,fruiting well,cover with netting to prevent attacks by birds,(they are not having MY spartan)!!!!! What a great apple,picked one or two this morning for eating latter in day.Question, Do they store?
• 30 May 2008  HONOLULU, United States

  ALOHA ~~ EXCELLENT APPLE. RAISED IN RHODE ISLAND, OLDEST OF SIX, ONE OF MANY FAMILY TRADITIONS WAS THE HAPPY WEEKEND TREK TO THE RI COUNTRYSIDE FOR A BUSHEL OF McINTOSH APPLES. LIVING IN HONOLULU NOW FOR 20 YRS, SPARTANS ARE REALLY THE CLOSEST I'VE EVER GOTTEN TO THE TASTE OF MY BELOVED McINTOSH.
• 17 Jan 2008  TROON AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND, United Kingdom

  Inherited this apple tree and over the years it has yielded a lot of fruit - never tasted an apple so good - bumper crop this year so brought apples into work - everyone raved about the taste,colour,texture etc yummee OP: Yes, this is an easy apple to grow, and great straight from the tree.
• 27 Nov 2007  SEQUIM, WA. USA, United States

  This apple has the best taste for cooking or eating and I would like to grow my own tree's, but cannot find where to buy them in Clallam County?
• 02 Nov 2007  CO. DURHAM, United States

  We like spartans very much but it seems to be a very short season. We've found them in Waitrose and Sainsbury's. Is it possible to buy a box from an English grower? OP: Yes, Spartans are great straight from the tree, but don't really keep.
• 27 Oct 2007  CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom

  Every year we pick apples at a friend's orchard, but we never knew what they were until we had them identified at the apple day at the botanical gardens last week end. The ones we love, aka "the purple ones", as my children call them, were identified as Spartan, but they are almost plum colour, with white flesh tinted pink in places, and not as squashed in shape as the one in your photo. Nothing like it really...anyway we absolutely adore them, eat them every day and have made quite a lot of juice. The others, which we also like but not as much, are Queen cox and Crispin Mutsu - these were probably ready a bit earlier and have gone a bit soft, but the taste is quite nice. We also picked some Howgate Wonder for baking, and they are nice and sharp, but I quite like to eat them raw too! Orangeippin: yes, Spartan can go very deep crimson/purple if left on the tree as late as possible.
• 22 Oct 2007  ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  My first experience of a Spartan apple, and its certianly a good one. Seems to be available in Waitrose at the moment - at least until I buy them all!
• 21 Oct 2007  ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  I have just had the apples growing in our garden identified as Spartans. I love the way they have a whitish bloom on the skin until you polish them, then they glow deep red, much darker than the picture above. They make a wonderful sunset coloured apple juice, keep well when stored - altogether, a great apple!
• 15 Oct 2007  BETHEL CT, United States

  I recently went apple picking in Washington CT Averill Farm. I picked all Spartan apples, they are the BEST so far!!
• 15 Oct 2007  OXFORD, ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  I grow Spartan apples in my back garden. This year was an exceptional crop. One medium tree yielded nearly 200 kg of the little gems, which I shall shortly be pressing to make some Spartan Cider!
• 14 Oct 2007  PA, United States

  I love the spartan apple, but I haven't been able to find them in a long time, I finally got some at an Amish roadside stand I frequent near my home. I ate one on the way home and couldn't get over how good it was, I'm going back to get some more.
• 11 Oct 2007  ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  Bought 3 of these. My children hated them! I however adored them as they brought back memories of my childhood. No idea why. Will buy them again.
• 07 Oct 2007  PENNSYLVANIA, United States

  I absolutely love this apple, but it is extremely hard to find where I live. Every year I ask various growers from around my area, but it seems noone has them. I would appreciate knowing where I can find these delicious apples. Thanks, Pat Robbins

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• United States25
• United Kingdom57
• Ireland1
• Canada6
• Australia3
• New Zealand3
• Switzerland1
• Poland1

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Spartan apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
  Spartan apple trees
• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
  Spartan apple trees
• Thomas Fruit Trees (EU) France
  Spartan apple trees
• Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards
  United States  More >>
• Cummins Nursery
  United States  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Spartan:

United States

• Arizona

  • Beatty's Orchard, Hereford

• California

  • Parrish Pioneer Ranch, Yucaipa
  • Riley's Apple Farm #1, Oak Glen
  • Riley's at Los Rios Rancho, Yucaipa

• Colorado

  • Gott Bro's Orchard & Produce, L.L.C., Ignacio

• Connecticut

  • Allyn's Red Barn, Ledyard
  • Averill Farm, Washington Depot

• Idaho

  • BYU-Idaho Apple Orchard Museum, Rexburg

• Illinois

  • Jonamac Orchards, Malta
  • Kuipers Family Farm, Maple Park

• Indiana

  • Cook's Orchard, Fort Wayne
  • G. W. Stroh Orchards, Angola
  • McClure's Orchard, Peru
  • Harker Family Farms & Orchard, Waldron

• Iowa

  • Apples on the Avenue, Nashua
  • Wills Family Orchard, Adel
  • Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City

• Kentucky

  • Eckert | Boyd Orchard, Versailles

• Maine

  • Hope Orchards, Hope
  • Sweetser's Apple Barrel and Orchards, Cumberland Center

• Massachusetts

  • Bolton Spring Farm, Bolton
  • Red Apple Farm, Phillipston
  • Westward Orchards, Harvard

• Michigan

  • Johanson's Apple World, Baroda
  • Kapnick Orchards, Britton
  • Knaebe's "Mmmunchy Krunchy" Apple Farm Cider Mill, Rogers City
  • Red Apple Orchard, Britton

• Minnesota

  • Aamodt's Apple Farm and Bakery, Stillwater
  • Afton Apple Orchard, Hastings
  • Eve's Orchard, Cleveland
  • Minnesota Harvest, Jordan
  • Nelson's Apple Farm, Webster
  • Sogn Valley Orchard, Dennison
  • Sweetland Orchard, Webster

• Montana

  • Ross Orchards, Fromberg

• Nebraska

  • Martin's Hillside Orchard, Ceresco

• New Mexico

  • Manzano Mountain Retreat and Apple Ranch, Torreon

• New York

  • Bellinger's Apple Orchard, Fultonville
  • Borden's Orchard, Schaghticoke
  • Dr. Davies Farm, Congers
  • Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction
  • Goold Orchards, Castleton on Hudson
  • Hopedale Farm, Hudson
  • LoveApple Farms, Ghent
  • Minards Family Farm, Clintondale
  • Northern Orchard Co Inc., Peru
  • Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook
  • Rulfs Orchard, Peru
  • Samascott Orchard, Kinderhook

• Ohio

  • Hoen's Orchard and Market, Delta
  • Monroe's Orchard & Farm Market, LLC, Hiram

• Pennsylvania

  • Brown's Orchard and Cider Company, McDonald
  • Shenot Farm, Wexford
  • Taggart's Orchard, Washington

• Rhode Island

  • Barden Family Orchard, North Scituate

• South Dakota

  • Krause Family Orchard & Nursery Inc., Glenham

• Washington

  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Bauer's Apple Shed, Hortonville
  • Cattleana Ranch, Poygan Township/Omro
  • Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove
  • Roo's Apple Orchard, Omro
  • Rush River Orchard and Bakery, Ellsworth
  • Sacia Orchards, Galesville        *** Feature Orchard ***

United Kingdom

• England - midlands

  • Meynell Langley Trials Gardens, Derby
  • The Vyne, Basingstoke
  • Walsgrove Farm, Worcester

• England - south-east

  • Home Cottage Farm, Iver
  • Holton Orchards, Halesworth

• England - south-west

  • Trevalon Organic Cooperative, Liskeard
  • Charlton Orchards, Taunton
  • A'Beckett's, Devizes

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Apple Luscious Organic Orchards, Salt Spring Island
  • Blue Haze Farm, Victoria
  • Blush Lane Organic Orchard, Keremeos
  • Garside's Fruit Farm, Abbotsford
  • Orchard Corners Organics, Kelowna
  • Ravenskill Orchards, Gabriola Island
  • Roseridge Orchards, Kelowna
  • Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island
  • Spencer Hill Orchard, Grand Forks
  • Starry Night Meadows Farm, Mayne Island

• New Brunswick

  • Verger Belliveau Orchard, Memramcook

• Nova Scotia

  • Vista Bella Farm Orchard and Apiary, Malagash

• Ontario

  • Blue Dog Orchards, Clear Creek
  • DeVries Fruit Farm, Fenwick
  • Dixie Orchards, Caledon
  • Juicy-Fruit Orchards, Thedford
  • Moore Orchards, Cobourg
  • Mountain Orchards, Mountain
  • Organics Farm, Markham
  • Waddell Apples, Kingston

• Quebec

  • Les Vergers de la Colline, Ste-Cécile de Milton

References

• Cedar-Apple Rust  
  Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
  Rated as resistant - control only needed under high disease pressure.
• Fruit Expert
  Author: Hessayon