Description
About the Baldwin Apple Tree
The Baldwin Apple Tree, an American heirloom variety with roots tracing back to Massachusetts circa 1750, embodies the essence of traditional apple cultivation. This vigorous tree boasts large, round fruit with striking red-and-green skin and creamy flesh, perfect for a wide range of culinary applications.
Going by many names like Calville Butter, Felch, Late Baldwin, Pecker, Red Baldwin Pippin, Steele’s Red Winter, Woodpecker, and more, the Baldwin Apple has left a lasting impression in apple history. Recognized for its enduring legacy, this tree remains a symbol of American apple heritage, offering not just fruit but a piece of historical agricultural excellence to orchards and enthusiasts alike.
Characteristics and Usage of the Fruit
Renowned for its versatility, the Baldwin apple is ideal for fresh-eating, juicing, and various culinary uses. The fruit’s tough, smooth bright red skin adorned with flecks or dots of gray or whitish hue encases crisp, firm, juicy, and aromatic yellowish-white flesh. Its excellence extends to cider production, making it a reliable choice for cider aficionados. Notably, the Baldwin apple stores exceptionally well under optimal conditions, maintaining its quality over extended periods.
Growth and Harvest
The Baldwin Apple Tree, a medium-large winter apple, requires timely pruning and thinning for regular yearly bearing, known for its abundant production at maturity. Originating from Lowell, MA, around 1740, this hardy tree stands strong in Zone 4 climates. It exhibits a tendency to produce heavily biennially, often alternating between heavy yields and minimal to no bearing on alternate years due to being triploid and pollen sterile. A crucial aspect of cultivation involves choosing another apple variety as a pollinator due to its inability to pollinate other apple tree.
Note: Triploid; cannot pollinate other apple trees.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Time | Mid - Late |
| Fruit Color | Red |
| Fruit Size | Medium - Large |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 4 - 8 |
| Pollination | Pollinator Required |
| Ripens/Harvest | October |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Texture | Crisp |
| Years to Bear | 2 - 5 |
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
Tools & Supplies
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow apple trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Need to start refreshing my orchard. This is an awesome variety for pies, cider, and keeps well over the winter.
Vigorous growth and good fruit. Versatile apple.
My last name is Baldwin and I wanted to grow some heirloom varieties.
I have standards in this veriety that are sixty years old and need replaced