Duchess of Oldenburg

Image

Duchess of Oldenburg

Grandparent of Northern Spy and McIntosh. Commonly called Duchess. Known for winter hardiness. Medium sized, flat rectangular fruit. Thick, glossy, greenish to pale yellow skin almost covered with crimson stripes and splashes. Almost too tart to eat fresh. Makes excellent pies and sauces. Becomes mealy if over ripe. Poor keeper. Tree is medium sized, spreading, extremely hardy, long lived, heat resistant. Annual producer. Bears when young. Resistant to apple scab, cedar apple rust and fire blight. Tolerates moist or heavy soils. Ripens August to September. Zone 3-7. Originated in the Upper Volga region of Russia. Introduced to England around 1817. Imported to the US in 1835.