Red Delicious Apple Tree

Red Delicious is a long-established apple selection, documented by Washington State University as a sport of Delicious originating in Iowa. Its fruit develops a predominantly bright to dark red skin, sometimes striped, with sweet, juicy flesh. The exact size of a grafted tree depends on its rootstock and training system. ## Fruit and season WSU lists Red Delicious as a midseason harvest apple and reports that fruit can keep for up to 12 months under suitable storage conditions. Harvest timing and storage results vary with climate, maturity at picking, and postharvest handling. See the [WSU Tree Fruit Red Delicious profile](https://treefruit.wsu.edu/variety/red-delicious/). ## Site and pollination Choose a sunny site with well-drained soil. Apples generally need pollen from a different compatible cultivar to set a reliable crop; select a partner whose bloom overlaps locally, and ask a nearby extension service or nursery for regional recommendations. Iowa State Extension’s [home orchard guide](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-apples-home-garden) covers site selection, drainage, pollination, and care. ## Maintenance Water deeply during dry periods, particularly while young trees establish. Prune during dormancy to build an open framework and remove damaged or crossing branches. Thin heavy fruit clusters when needed to reduce branch strain and improve the remaining fruit. Remove fallen fruit and leaves during cleanup, and monitor for common apple pests and diseases.