Malus domestica 'Red Delicious'
fruitRed Delicious is the iconic dark-red American apple, first recognized in Iowa in 1872 and one of the most planted varieties in the world. Modern Red Delicious has been bred for deeper color and tougher shipping skin, with mild sweet low-acid flavor and crisp pale yellow flesh; best eaten fresh straight from the tree rather than cooked.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
12-15 ft (semi-dwarf)
Planting Depth
Graft union 4 in above soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Early spring before bud break
Fertilizer
Compost; balanced 10-10-10 only if growth is weak
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam in zones 4 to 8. Set the graft union 4 in above soil. Red Delicious blooms early to mid-season; pair with Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji for cross-pollination. Train to a central leader and prune in late winter to encourage strong fruiting wood. Thin clusters early in summer to one apple per spur. Trees bear in 4 to 5 years on semi-dwarf rootstock.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Sep 22 · Year 3
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Rake fallen leaves, prune for airflow, sulfur in wet years
Pheromone traps, fruit bagging, drop removal
Avoid heavy nitrogen, prune blighted shoots 12 in below cankers
Kaolin clay at petal fall; pick up early drops
Red Delicious is harvested in mid-October. Wait for the background color under the deep red blush to shift from green to yellow-green and the seeds inside to turn dark brown. Lift apples in the palm and twist for a clean stem-on pick. Store at 33F; Red Delicious holds well for 4 to 6 months. Fresh-picked fruit from a home tree is dramatically more flavorful than the shipping-tough grocery version.
About 52 calories per 100 g with 2.4 g fiber, 5 mg vitamin C, and 107 mg potassium. Red Delicious has notably high polyphenol content concentrated in the skin, so eat unpeeled for full antioxidant value. Studies have linked apple-skin compounds to reduced cardiovascular risk.
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.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
Year 2
Year 3