Yellow Transparent
Yellow Transparent stands out as one of the earliest apples of the season, prized for its bright tartness, tender texture, and unsurpassed suitability as a sauce apple.
- Taste: Sharp, sprightly subacid bite with a subtle floral aroma
- Skin & Flesh Color: Translucent pale yellow to nearly white skin; crisp, creamy white flesh that softens quickly when overripe
- Harvest Season: Very early (Usually ripening in August)
- Disease Resistance: Good scab resistance
- Best Uses: Applesauce, pie filling, fruit butters, fresh cooking, quick‐turn cider, and savory chutneys
- Storage Life: Short—best consumed or processed within 1–2 weeks of picking
- Pollination: Self‐sterile; pair with early‐blooming varieties like Gravenstein, Lodi, or Transparent Gris for reliable fruit set
- Chill Hours: Approximately 350–450 hours; hardy to USDA zone 3 when well established
- Tree Habit & Size: Vigorous, upright with a sturdy framework of short spurs that bear fruit young
- Strong tendency for biennial bearing
- Origin & Heritage: A chance seedling from the Baltic region or Russia introduced to North America in the 1870s; historically treasured by homesteaders for its reliability in short growing seasons
Yellow Transparent’s lightning-fast arrival and culinary versatility make it a must-have for orchards aiming to offer the very first taste of summer.
