Mutsu Apple

History: Mutsu apples were developed in the 1930s at the Aomori Apple Experiment Station in Japan as a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo apples, the same parentage as its sister apple Shizuka. This variety was named after Mutsu Province which was the previous name for the area where it was grown and released in 1949.

Why We Grow It: Mutsu apples have a lot going for them. They have a delicious sweet-tart flavour which is great for fresh eating and the golden yellow skin is quite attractive. The fruit itself is very large and keeps its shaped when cooked, making it an excellent choice for baking. The apples even store well, lasting all winter.

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 and precocious with a spreading growth habit, tends to have heavy crops every other year, spur bearing. Susceptible to blister spot, canker, mildew, fireblight, and cedar rust and very susceptible to scab and quince rust, but preforms fairly well in our test orchard.

Sun/Shade: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)

Pollination: Triploid, requires two pollinators of different non-triploid apple varieties that bloom around the same time  

Flowering Time: Bloom middle

Ripens: Mid October

Storage: Keeps until May when stored in cold storage

Recommended Use: Fresh eating, cooking

Size including roots:

• 100-200 cm whip, 1 year grade
• 100 cm+ with 3 or more branches, 30 cm or more, 2 year grade
• 50-80 cm, B-grade