Franklin Cider™ Apple Tree
Description
About the Franklin Cider™ Apple Tree
A true breakthrough for home cidermakers, the Franklin Cider™ apple tree delivers everything you want in a single apple: high sugar, high acidity, and high tannins—the essential traits of a classic bittersharp cider apple. Whether you’re blending or pressing straight from the tree, Franklin offers complexity, structure, and that dry finish cider lovers crave.
This vigorous and hardy tree produces up to 30 bushels per year, yielding over two gallons of juice per bushel. Fruit ripens gradually and hangs well, giving you flexibility in harvest time. Apples are small to medium in size, red-carmine over yellow, with coarse white flesh and a pleasantly dry, tangy flavor. A favorite among wildlife, it’s also a boon for deer hunters in fall.
Awarded the GLINTCAP Cider & Perry Competition Bronze Medal winner in 2017, and the likely successor to ‘Kingston Black’, the cider-apple gold standard.
How to Grow the Franklin Cider™ Apple Tree
Cold-hardy down to -32°F and suited for USDA Zones 4–7, this long-lived tree performs well in a range of northern climates. It’s highly productive, disease-resistant, and shows good resilience against apple scab and cedar apple rust. Fruit ripens in early to mid-October. A pollinator is required—see recommendations below for best results.
Whether you’re crafting your first small batch or refining your favorite cider blend, the Franklin Cider™ apple tree is a standout choice for bold flavor, reliable yields, and top-tier cider quality.
Survival Guaranteed!
Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Time | Mid |
| Chill Hours | 800 - 1200 |
| Fruit Color | Yellow |
| Fruit Size | Small - Medium |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 3B - 6 |
| Pollination | Pollinator Required |
| Ripens/Harvest | October |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Taste | Sweet |
| Texture | Crisp, Juicy |
| Years to Bear | 3 - 5 |
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
| Semi-Dwarf | 12 - 15' tall x 12 - 15' wide |
| Dwarf | 8 - 10' tall x 8 - 10' wide |
Recommended Spacing
| Semi-Dwarf | 12 - 15' |
| Dwarf | 8 - 10' |
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
This variety requires another one for adequate 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.
