Jonamac Apple Tree

Jonamac Apple Tree Overview

The Jonamac apple tree is well known not only for being the apple of choice for eating fresh, but also for making dessert due to its juicy, sweet flavor. In fact, it has a mild acidic taste and is so sweet that is may give you the hint of strawberry flavor! Jonamac is medium in size and has green to yellow base color covered in bright red blush. Moreover, it may also have some striping. Roger Way created Jonamac by cross pollinating Jonathan with McIntosh in 1944 at the New York State Agricultural Station in Geneva, New York. First identified as “NY44428-5” in 1955 and chosen from 2,474 seedlings to create an apple variety similar to Mac (McIntosh) but with an earlier harvest time. Officially released in 1972. By putting in a request to name the new apple variety in the newspaper in Buffalo and Boston, 515 suggestions from the public poured in. Thus, Jonamac got its name!

Just like any other apple tree, the Idared apple tree grows best when it’s planted in full sun in well-drained soil. The tree can grow well in hardiness zones 3 to 8. The tree is moderately vigorous upright tree and produces good crop each year. Moreover, it starts to bear fruit quite young. When the fruit sets you can thin the tree in order to maintain the size. After picking can keep well in cold storage for two months. Idared apple trees are susceptible to scab and fireblight, but resistant to rust. It’s self-sterile and needs a good pollinator.

Growing Characteristics

• Uses: eating fresh, making dessert
• Taste: Juicy, has mild acidic taste, very sweet
• Size: Medium
• Color: Green to yellow base color covered in dark red. Flesh is cream in color.
• Hardiness Zones: 3 – 8
• Disease resistance
  • Scab – susceptible
  • Rust – resistant
  • Fireblight – somewhat susceptible
• Harvest period: 4
• Flowering Group: 4
• Cross Pollinates with: Binet Rouge, Calville Blanc, Crimson Crisp, Michelin to name a few!
• Cultivation: This apple tree is moderately vigorous. Upright spreading spur bearer. Starts to bear fruit young. Produces crop every year. To maintain size needs to be thinned after fruit sets.
• Storage: Keeps well in cold storage for two months.