Cortland Apple

Malus domestica 'Cortland'

fruit

Cortland is the cold-hardy McIntosh descendant bred at Cornell, with deep red skin and pure snow-white flesh that famously does not brown after slicing. The flavor is sweetly tangy and vinous, slightly sweeter than McIntosh, and the soft white flesh makes Cortland a top pick for fresh salads, fruit plates, and applesauce.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Chives — Repels aphids and may suppress apple scab around the drip line
• Comfrey — Mineral-mining mulch returns potassium to surface roots
• White Clover — Orchard-floor nitrogen fixer
• Yarrow — Attracts beneficial parasitic wasps

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Apple scab →

  Rake fallen leaves, prune for airflow; sulfur sprays in wet springs

• Codling moth →

  Hang pheromone traps, bag fruit, pick up drops

• Fire blight →

  Avoid heavy nitrogen, prune blighted shoots 12 in below cankers, disinfect tools

• Plum curculio →

  Kaolin clay at petal fall; remove early drops weekly

🌾 Harvest & storage

Cortland ripens late September to mid-October. Pick when the background under the deep red blush shifts from green to yellow-green and seeds turn dark brown. The snow-white flesh resists browning for hours after slicing, making Cortland the best apple for fruit salads and lunch boxes. Refrigerate at 33F; Cortland softens faster than firmer apples, so eat within 2 to 3 months.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

About 52 calories per 100 g with 2.4 g fiber, 5 mg vitamin C, and 107 mg potassium. The slow oxidation of Cortland flesh is due to lower polyphenol oxidase activity in the variety; eat unpeeled for full antioxidant value from the deep red skin.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Eat the flesh, not the seeds. Apple and pear seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanide-releasing compound. Swallowing a seed or two is harmless, but do not deliberately eat or crush the seeds or cores in quantity.