An American apple, and very popular there. Raised 1945. Sometimes seen for sale in supermarkets here, a very handsome deeply lacquered red apple.
Empire Apple tree – Season:
Pick from the tree in early-mid Octrober; will store until January or longer.
Empire Apple - appearance:
A moderately sized handsome apple almost entirely covered by a dark wine red shiny flush.
Empire apple trees – flavour:
Very sweet, mild, vinous. Juicy texture crisp at first, becomes softer.
Uses:
A classic dessert apple.
Cropping & Growth
Medium vigour, heavily cropping.
Empire - Pollination: ‘B’ Pollination group, so use varieties with the same or adjacent pollinating prefixes. Good pollinating partners for this variety are suggested below.
Cox's Orange Pippin
Discovery
Bountiful
Alkmene
Elstar
Adams Pearmain
Tree sizes for Empire apple trees:
M27 is a miniature stock, ideal for very small gardens, pots on the patio etc. Grows to around 180cm’s. Good hearty soil is preferred.
M9 is classed as dwarfing and a good intermiate stock. Matures to 200cm’s plus with a similar spread. M9 is heavy cropping and promotes larger fruits, but needs permanent staking and good soil.
M26 stock Is classed as semi-dwarfing. Does well on poorer soil. Reaches 300cm’s+ with the same spread.
MM106 is vigorous and the best choice for where a larger ‘orchard sized’ tree is required. Grows 4m+ with the same spread and suitable for most soils.
