Vintage Virginia Apples

DETROIT RED was likely brought from France by settlers in the Detroit locality, but was not described until 1845 by Downing. Thomas Jefferson planted grafted trees of Detroit Red in the nursery at Monticello in 1805. Fruit is large in size and oblate in form with distinct ribbing. The thick tough skin is a crimson overspread with a purplish-red that blackens as the fruit ripens, and the greenish-yellow background shows through this dark coloration. The white flesh of this dessert apple is coarse-grained, juicy, subacid and highly aromatic. Often it is streaked or stained red. It blooms even later than the Rome Beauty, and therefore, it is less likely to be frost damaged. Ripens in September.