Sweet Sixteen Apple Tree

Sweet Sixteen is a University of Minnesota apple introduced in 1977, valued for crisp, juicy fruit with yellow flesh and a very sweet, distinctive flavor. In Minnesota it ripens in mid to late September, and the apples store for about five to eight weeks. ## Fruit and growth The breeder describes a flavor reminiscent of sugar cane or spicy cherry candy. The tree is very vigorous, and fruit can drop prematurely, so harvest timing and thinning matter. Apples are useful for fresh eating and cooking; a co-blossoming apple nearby can improve pollination for many cultivars. ## Site and care Grow in full sun to partial shade. Rootstock and training affect mature size, while apple cultivars differ in their chilling needs. Sources: [Minnesota Hardy, University of Minnesota](https://mnhardy.umn.edu/apples/varieties), [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malus-domestica/), [Utah State University Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/apple-production-and-variety-recommendations-for-the-utah-home-garden). ## Maintenance Prune during dormancy to maintain a manageable canopy, thin heavy crops, and check fruit and leaves for locally common apple pests and diseases. Follow local guidance for spray timing and harvest.