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Lodi apple

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An attractive yellow early-season apple with a sharp flavor, best used for cooking.

USDA identification images for Lodi

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

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Lodi
  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Lodi

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


Visitor reviews

  • 08 Apr 2019  OH, United States
    I love this tart sour apple straight from the tree w/ a salt shaker. Hard to find but love them !!
  • 25 Aug 2016  TENNESSEE, United States
    These trees were in the yard of the house we bought 30 years ago. Some years, they have a bumper crop, and some years not many apples at all. They bruise easily, so you have to pick them rather than let them fall when ripe. Super for applesauce, OK for baking, too tart for eating raw. Some apples get very big in good years.
  • 29 Aug 2015  NE, United States
    I bought lodi apples in August, and had them in the box, thinking I didnt have to work the apples right away. I opened the box and almost all were split in half. cracked, and dried out.
  • 29 Jun 2015  BC, Canada
    Reading up about all the summer varieties and I think this matches what is growing in my yard. My first experience with a summer apple and it's had me guessing! we're trying to graft Spartan onto a few branches as I much prefer it and hate to lose the incredible root system of a 50 year old tree.. thanks for the tips on how to process the fruit. Tart for sure and the mealy splitting is really gross.
  • 05 Mar 2015  NW VA, United States
    Excellent apple for applesauce that many older people I know seek out. Extremely tangy/acidic, but not quite puckery sauce - perfect IMO. I hope to grow a tree, but sounds susceptible to rust, unfortunately.
  • 01 Dec 2014  CALIFORNIA, United States
    My grandparents had Lodi apples in their yard in Northern California, and I agree that it males the best applesauce! In fact it was something my grandma made every year when the Lodi apples came into season.
  • 14 Jul 2014  MO, United States
    I learned about Lodi apples working in an orchard ran by an older man maned Orville Mayes, in the early seventies. I now have one semi-dwarf tree that produces well and we use the apples for applesauce mostly. I have used several of my other varieties but the Lodi is in my opinion the very best applesauce apple. I made some apple crisp with Lodi's a few years ago and gave some to my neighbor who exclaimed it was the best Apple crisp he had ever eaten...yes they are a bit tart but they cook up very well...
  • 09 Jul 2014  WA, United States
    We just moved into a house that has several fruit trees and we noticed this apple growing really early and really fast. We have no clue what they are, but this description seems to fit. Has anyone heard of these in the Pacific Northwest?
  • 06 Nov 2013  United States
    Lodis are grown here in Southern Illinois and the word we always used was "Tart" and that is with a capital "T". I would never select a Lodi to eat it, just wait a bit for Golden Delicious. On the other hand for an Apple Gallette? - throw the Golden Delicious out the window! My mom was born in Germany and she never baked the over sweet American pies. We always got European style Gooseberry, Rhubarb (definitely NOT that sickly sweet strawberry version) and of course Lodi apple tarts. Since Lodis are a short season just make a bunch of simple pies and freeze them. Months later when you want one, pull one from the freezer and bake it.
  • 11 Aug 2013  IOWA / IOWA, United States
    Very precocious, typically ready by 2nd week of July. Excellent for use in applesauce. Turns mealy quickly but right before full ripening not bad eating off the tree for a week or two if you don't mind the softer texture.
  • 28 Jun 2013  ILL, United States
    Been cooking this apple for over 50 years. From southern Ill. but can now purchase these apples from farmers market that comes to Chgo from Berrin Mich. Buy and slice them and put in freezer for fried apples or apple rolls
  • 20 Oct 2011  MARYLAND, United States
    My first experience with this apple was about 30 years ago. My mother-in-law introduced me to it with her homemade applesauce. I just loved it ........don't think I've ever had better,the characteristic that I found so appealing was the fact that you also include the peel which cooks up soft and enhances the flavor and texture of the sauce. Although Lodis are not readily found in my area my husband and I always look for them in our travels.
  • 01 Oct 2011  NEW HAMPSHIRE, United States
    This apple transplanted and grew extremely well. This is the first year I got a decent crop and I was disappointed. Whatever its qualities may be as cooking apple, it certainly lacks any redeeming qualities eaten off the tree. I found it to be mealy and insipid. I intend to pull it up and replace it with something else.
  • 30 Aug 2011  United States
    This is my favorite variety of apple to use when making applesauce. It cooks down to a smooth texture and does well when frozen (as sauce).

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

  • Jenny in Melbourne, VICTORIA,

Spring blossom records for this variety

2016 season

  • June  2016  - tree owned by B. in Searsmont, United States
  • 9th April  2016  - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States
  • April  2016  - tree owned by Daniel in Sabetha, United States

2015 season

  • 10th April  2015  - tree owned by Daniel in Sabetha, United States

2014 season

  • 20th May  2014  - tree owned by Mike in Westfield, United States

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


Harvest records for this variety

2017 season

  • 2nd week July  2017  - tree owned by Dennis in Bradford, United States

2016 season

  • 3rd week September  2016  - tree owned by B. in Searsmont, United States
  • 2nd week July  2016  - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States

2015 season

  • 3rd week July  2015  - tree owned by Britt in Saint Joseph, United States

2011 season

  • 4th week July  2011  - tree owned by Phil in Winneconne, United States

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Parentage: Montgomery x Yellow Transparent
  • Originates from: Geneva, New York, United States
  • Introduced: 1924
  • Developed by: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1979-172
  • We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.

Identification

  • Country of origin: United States
  • Fruit colour: Green

Using

  • Picking season: Very early
  • Picking season: Early
  • Keeping (of fruit): 1 week
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
  • Cooking result: Puree
  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Food uses: Culinary
  • Food uses: Juice

Growing

  • Gardening skill: Experienced
  • Flowering group: 2
  • Pollinating others: Poor
  • Ploidy: Triploid
  • Vigour: Vigorous
  • Precocity: Precocious
  • Bearing regularity: Biennial tendency
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Poor

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Lodi:

United States


Canada




References

  • Cedar-Apple Rust  
    Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
    Rated as highly susceptible - control always needed where CAR is prevalent.
  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor

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