Grimes Golden

Grimes Golden was found by Thomas Grimes in Brooke County, West Virginia, 1804, near Wellsburg, West Virginia, where John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, established a nursery with his brother. One of the parents of Golden Delicious. Roundish or slightly oblong in form, small to medium in size, with a greenish-yellow skin, ripening to a clear yellow. Sometimes roughened with yellow or russet dots. Yellowish flesh is crisp and tender, with a spicy, sweet flavor. A good all-purpose apple, it contains 18.81% sugar that ferments to a 9% alcohol, popular for making hard cider. Tends to overcrop, and must be heavily-thinned to produce large fruit. Leaves are shiny and smooth, dark green in color, and heavily folded with fine serrations. Heavy pruning to remove its bushy growth will improve fruit production. Knobs at the base of its branches make the limbs more resistant to breakage. Self-fertile and an excellent pollinator for other varieties. Subject to collar rot, but resistant to fireblight and cedar apple rust. Ripens in late September and stores very well.