Ben Davis Apple Tree

Ben Davis Apple was called the “Mortgage Lifter” by the farmers who grew it — not as flattery, but as a statement of fact. In the 19th century, Ben Davis was one of the most commercially successful apples in America precisely because it could do what most heirloom varieties couldn’t: survive being picked, packed, and shipped without bruising, then hold in storage for three months or more. The fruit that paid the mortgage. Medium-to-large, striking red over yellow-green, with firm, coarse white flesh that’s mildly sweet with a delicate aroma — outstanding for fresh eating, baking, sauces, and pies. Resistant to cedar apple rust, woolly apple aphid, and powdery mildew. Precocious, reliable, and cold-hardy to Zone 3. A pollinator is required.

The Mortgage Lifter — One of America’s Most Important Commercial Apples

Ben Davis’s commercial success story is genuine American orchard history. Also known as Baltimore Pippin, Kentucky Pippin, Funkhouse, and the Mortgage Maker, it dominated commercial apple production across the mid-South and Midwest through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The reason was simple: the combination of vigorous, reliable annual production, extraordinary shipping durability, and three-month cold storage life made it one of the most financially dependable crops an orchard could produce. For home growers who value proven heirloom performance and long storage, that same practical character translates directly.

Three Months in Cold Storage — Long Hang Time on the Tree

Ben Davis ripens in late September to early October and hangs on the tree longer than most varieties without quality decline — giving flexible harvest timing. In proper cold storage, the apples maintain quality for three months or more, making a late September harvest usable well into winter. That storage life made it invaluable commercially and remains equally valuable for home orchardists who want to extend their apple supply through the season.

Disease Resistant — Cedar Apple Rust, Woolly Apple Aphid, Powdery Mildew

The disease resistance profile is a practical advantage for home orchards where spray management is limited. Resistance to cedar apple rust, woolly apple aphid, and powdery mildew reduces the management burden considerably, though some susceptibility to apple scab and canker warrants attention in high-pressure environments.

Why Growers Choose Ben Davis Apple

• The original "Mortgage Lifter" — one of America’s most commercially important 19th century apples
• Three months in cold storage — exceptional keeping quality through winter
• Firm, mildly sweet white flesh — outstanding fresh, baked, and for pies and sauce
• Resistant to cedar rust, woolly aphid, and powdery mildew — practical disease resistance
• Precocious and reliably productive — consistent annual late September harvests
• Cold-hardy to Zone 3 — vigorous and adaptable across a wide northern range