Winesap Apple Tree

Winesap is an old apple cultivar with red, firm fruit and a tart flavor. The apples keep well in storage and are used both fresh and for cooking, although harvest timing and performance vary by region. ## Fruit and Harvest Winesap fruit is small, very firm, and red. Extension profiles describe it as a good-quality, tart apple with a long storage life; Missouri lists it for fresh eating and processing and classifies it as a very long keeper. Virginia Tech places harvest around October 20 in Blacksburg, a regional estimate rather than a universal date. ## Growing Conditions Choose a site with well-drained soil and a climate suited to apples. Winesap is triploid and does not provide viable pollen for other cultivars. For dependable fruiting, plant two compatible diploid apple varieties that flower at the same time nearby; a compatible crabapple may also serve as a pollinizer. ## Maintenance Monitor the tree and fruit for local pest and disease pressures, and harvest as the apples reach maturity. Rootstock has a major effect on mature tree size and support needs, so use local nursery guidance when matching a rootstock to the available space. The [Virginia Cooperative Extension apple guide](https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/422/422-023/422-023.html) explains pollination and rootstock choices, while [Purdue Extension](https://ag.purdue.edu/department/hla/extension/extension-publications-library/ext-pubs/ho-165-w.html) and [University of Missouri Extension](https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6022) describe Winesap fruit and storage.