Apple, Gold Rush, Bare Root

Spicy, Sweet-Tart Late-Season Apple

<p>The Gold Rush apple is a celebrated late-season variety, prized for its unique, complex flavor profile and excellent storage life. Known for its firm, crisp texture and balanced sweet-tart taste with hints of spice, Gold Rush is a perfect choice for fresh eating, baking, and cider-making. This disease-resistant variety ripens in late October to early November, making it a valuable late fall harvest option for home orchards. As it stores, Gold Rush’s flavor continues to mellow and develop, making it a wintertime favorite for apple enthusiasts.</p>
<p><strong>Key Characteristics</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Complex, Sweet-Tart Flavor with Spice Notes</strong><br>Gold Rush offers an intense flavor experience, combining sweetness with tartness and subtle spicy undertones. Its rich flavor makes it a standout for fresh eating, cider, and baking, where it adds depth to pies, crisps, and sauces.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Late-Season Harvest and Extended Storage Life</strong><br>Ripening in late October to early November, Gold Rush provides a long-lasting harvest with apples that store well for up to six months, maintaining their crispness and enhancing flavor in storage.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>High Disease Resistance</strong><br>Developed with strong resistance to apple scab, Gold Rush is also moderately resistant to other common apple diseases, making it an ideal choice for organic and low-spray orchards.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Ideal for Fresh Eating, Baking, and Cider</strong><br>With its firm texture and robust flavor, Gold Rush performs well in the kitchen, adding vibrant flavor to pies, sauces, and fresh cider. Its complex taste only improves over time, making it versatile and well-suited for extended use.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Excellent Pollinator Compatibility</strong><br>Gold Rush is a self-sterile variety and benefits from nearby pollinators for consistent fruiting. Good pollinator choices include 'Honeycrisp,’ 'Liberty,’ and 'Enterprise,’ enhancing yields and orchard diversity.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Product Details</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Sun Requirements</strong>: Full sun</li>
<li>
<strong>Soil Requirements</strong>: Medium, well-draining</li>
<li>
<strong>Bloom Time</strong>: Mid-season (April to early May)</li>
<li>
<strong>Bloom Color</strong>: White</li>
<li>
<strong>Fruit Qualities</strong>: Sweet-tart, crisp, spicy notes, firm texture</li>
<li>
<strong>Fruit Uses</strong>: Fresh eating, baking, cider, long-term storage</li>
<li>
<strong>Fruit Ripening Month</strong>: Late October to early November</li>
<li>
<strong>Required Chill Hours</strong>: 800-1,000 hours</li>
<li>
<strong>Pollination Partners</strong>: Honeycrisp, Liberty, Enterprise</li>
<li>
<strong>USDA Hardiness Zones</strong>: 5-8</li>
</ul>
<p>Gold Rush is a must-have for orchardists seeking a high-flavor, disease-resistant apple that ripens late in the season and stores exceptionally well, adding value and variety to the home orchard.</p>"