
MacFree Apple
- Regular price
- Sold out
- Sale price
- $45.00 Sale
History: Macfree was developed at the Agriculture and Agri-Food research station in Ottawa in conjunction with the Smithfield Experimental Farm. It is descended from McIntosh while its other parent came from the Purdue-Illinois breeding program that was focused on breeding disease-resistant apples. The result is a McIntosh-like apple with great disease resistance that was released in 1974!
Why We Grow It: For fans of McIntosh who want something a bit easier to grow, this is a great apple to choose. This highly disease resistant variety is quite similar to its parent and boasts both good growth and productivity.
Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
Soil Preference: Sandy loam, loam, clay loam. Prefers average to moist conditions, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring. Generally quite adaptable to different soil conditions.
Growth Habits and Disease Resistance: Vigorous with a spreading growth habit, produces good crops. Resistant to mildew, fireblight, and cedar rust, and very resistant to scab.
Sun/Shade: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)
Pollination: Requires a pollinator of a different apple variety that blooms around the same time
Flowering Time: Likely Middle
Ripens: Late September
Storage: Keeps until March when refrigerated
Recommended Use: Fresh eating
Size including roots:
- 1m+ Whip: 100-200cm
- 1m+ Branched: 100cm+ with at least three branches 30cm+
- 50-80cm Whip: 50-80cm