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Liberty Apple
Liberty Apple

Liberty Apple

37 ReviewsAsk Questions

Available Spring 2020

Supplies are limited so make sure you don't miss out next time by having us automatically notify you when it becomes available again.

Description

A prolific bearer that excels where McIntosh won’t. Tree is low-maintenance due to its natural disease resistance to apple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew. Fruit has a yellow background with attractive red overtones, a crisp white flesh, and a harmonious sweet-tart taste. Perfect for fresh-eating, cooking, canning, or keeping – proper storage improves the flavor! Originates from Geneva, New York in 1955. Cold-hardy. Ripens in early September. Best organic pollinators: Cortland or Whitney Crabapple. Best non-organic pollinators: Cortland, Freedom, or Starkspur® UltraMac™. A licensed variety of Cornell University.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large
Ripens/Harvest September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Moderately Tart
Texture Crisp
Years to Bear 2 - 5
Zone Range 4 - 7

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 7
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant a pollinator within 50' for best pollination.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Tags

We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.

Questions & Answers

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Browse 14 questions Browse 14 questions and 68 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Disease resistance, size, flavor, prolific
Melissa B on May 19, 2019
It is a gorgeous tree and the fruit is excellent for cider.
Kirsten H on Feb 23, 2019
Disease resistance, size, flavor, prolific
Melissa B on May 19, 2019
Recommended for MD
Patrice O on Mar 28, 2019
It is a gorgeous tree and the fruit is excellent for cider.
Kirsten H on Feb 23, 2019
Disease resistant
Edna C on Nov 8, 2018
Fire blight resistance
TERRY J on Nov 3, 2018
It is cedar rust resistant and is a pollinator for honeycrisp apple trees.
Barbara O on May 22, 2018
I bought one earlier this year and it was a prolific grower; wanted another one
Jordan on May 22, 2018
We chose this because of its disease resistance.
Clare S on May 19, 2018
Recommended for Missouri. High disease resistance. Bloom early-mid season group 2. Am a little cautious about this. Because of late frost/freeze here.Immune to scab. Resists rust, fireblight. Good for eating fresh, drying.
Annette H on May 14, 2018
I wanted an apple tree that was resistant to cedar apple rust as we live in a wooded area with a lot of Cedar trees. I also wanted an apple that was good for eating and cooking
BEVERLY W on May 6, 2018
avoid cedar apple rust
cheryl F on May 2, 2018
Because of its listed disease resistance and it is supposed to be a good cooking apple
CARL R on Apr 29, 2018
Grew this variety, along with Freedom, at our former home and we loved it so much we planted it again at our new homestead! Flesh is crisp and tart, our favorite for fresh eating, but also great to bake with too. We never sprayed it for ANYTHING in 8 years and it had zero disease or pest issues. It made it through the drought of 2012, some torrential rains and a couple brutal winters with no issues.
Whitney H on Mar 15, 2018
Disease resistance. Growing them organically. The trees are growing well, no apples yet.
MICHAEL S on Nov 3, 2017
Highly recommended for my area by MO Agricultural Extension as disease resistant.
ELLEN L on Oct 26, 2017
Because it is resistant to cedar rust and it pollinates Freedom apple, which in turn pollinates it.
Charles C on Sep 24, 2017
Recommended by MO extension for disease resistance & to pollinate Enterprise apple.
Mark F on Aug 17, 2017
A disease-resistant apple that I can plant for wildlife but also enjoy myself. Already ordered 3 prior to this one and am very pleased with Stark Bros quality.
Carson S on May 10, 2017
I'd like to grow an apple tree that needs little or no pesticide treatment. Liberty apple was developed toward this goal.
C LINDA H on Apr 22, 2017
I purchased a Liberty Apple 25 - 30 years ago. It's one of my top 3 favorite apples, among the 15 or so kinds we planted then. We use it for eating fresh, cooking and drying. Of my favorites, Starkspur Early Blaze ripens first, then Cortland, then Liberty. We live in a colder climate (less than 100 frost free days, reaching -20% F) where some apples don't do as well. These 3, we wouldn't be without.
Judith M on Apr 17, 2017
I have tried this variety at someone elses orchard. I really liked it. Before the Honeycrisp came on the scene, this was my favorite tasting apple. Good sweetness with a little tart.
Julia E on Apr 14, 2017
Disease resistance and fruit quailty.
John B on Apr 6, 2017
Good multi-purpose apple
LISA M on Mar 12, 2017
For its disease resistance
Gary H on Mar 1, 2017
Disease free
Sharon D on Feb 2, 2017
we wanted something hardy and disease resistant so that we don't have to use chemical sprays.
Bruce M on Jan 16, 2017
Disease Resistance
Peter Z on Jan 12, 2017
My parents planted several Liberty Apple trees in the late 1980's and these trees are still some of their best producers today. Low maintenance and great apple production!
Adam L on Jan 2, 2017
Disease resistance, Cornell growers guide recommendation for my area
Herschel B on Jun 12, 2016
Resistant to juniper rust
Lois T on Jun 11, 2016
Love the flavor of the Macintosh apple and bc of its disease resistance. We have prentiful cedars in our area.
Pam B on Jun 9, 2016
We chose this apple due to it's complete versatility in using fresh, baking, preserving, and juicing
Stephanie B on May 28, 2016
Disease resistance
JOHN G on May 24, 2016
Hope for easy growing and resistance to disease
Gabriele d on May 18, 2016
My friend grafts these and Freedoms and likes them a lot. Great for Northern. KY.
PATRICK S on May 10, 2016
I like to mix these with Jonathan to make a savory re apple sauce.
Annette F on Apr 29, 2016
Hoping that it will be resistant to Cedar Apple Rust which decimates my other apple trees
Stephanie L on Apr 3, 2016
Fire blight resistant variety
Daniel M on Mar 29, 2016
Fireblight resistance.
STEPHEN AND DONNA K on Mar 25, 2016
I chose this variety for it's disease resistance.
Matt O on Feb 25, 2016
Grows well without spray in my area.
Regina S on Feb 17, 2016
cedar apple rust resistance
JAMES T on Feb 17, 2016
Recommended for MD
Patrice O on Mar 28, 2019
Disease resistant
Edna C on Nov 8, 2018
Will this cross pollinate with the enterprise apple tree?
Hoosier apple on May 17, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Enterprise blooms far earlier than Liberty; I'm afraid they are not good pollinating partners.
What is the best way to prune the liberty dwarf apple tree? We have had it for around 5 years. Some of the branches are staring to reach out. I have turned a few branches.
Bill M on Jun 5, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Bill, We bought a Liberty semi-dwarf tree. I read on the Internet that pruning a dwarf tree is only a little bit different so all I can do is refer you back to Stark Bros website: http://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/successful-tree-pruning/. I would try calling Stark for guidance. Also you can search the Internet for tips about pruning dwarf apple trees. Good luck. We love our Liberty. It bloomed this year and has a couple apples which is mighty soon for produce since we just received it from Stark last year!
What's the best tree to cross pollinate ?
Jay K on Apr 29, 2018
BEST ANSWER: There are dozens of varieties that will successfully cross-pollinate with Liberty; it depends upon what you like. Many people plant Enterprise because of its disease-resistance. Others plant Honeycrisp or Gala because they love the fruit.
Would ornamental crab apple trees serve OK as cross pollinators for the Liberty Apple?
Lea K on Feb 26, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Because ornamental crabapple trees tend to have an early and prolonged bloom period, they make excellent pollinators for other types of apple trees. A crabapple tree is a great pollen source for your Liberty Apple tree!
I have a Winecrisp apple tree. Would the Liberty be a good pollinated?
Chris S on May 5, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Winecrisp blooms a little too late for Liberty, sorry.
Will a Liberty, Grimes Golden and an Empire or Jonafree pollinate each other?
Sarah L on May 5, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Liberty is in group 2; Grimes Golden is in group 3; Empire is group 4 and jonafree is in group 1. Sorry to say, but none of these will pollinate the other.
I already have wolf river Apple trees will they cross pollinate with the liberty Apple trees? I also have Granny Smith trees
Max on Apr 20, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Liberty is in a different flowering group than the other two, which are in the same flowering group and will pollinate each other. So the answer is that Wolf River and Granny Smith will be good partners, but Liberty will not pollinate either of those two.
Is liberty a good polinator for empire and honeycrisp??
Dan N on Apr 2, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Liberty is a triploid and is not the best pollinating partner; even to pollinate itself, it needs two other varieties. Empire and Honeycrisp both bloom too late.
Will liberty cross polinate with an already established fuji, honeycrisp or kinderkrisp?
Ashley W on Nov 25, 2017
BEST ANSWER: There is enough overlap between the three varieties' bloom times for them to all cross-pollinate one another.
After I harvest my Liberty apples what is the best temperature to store them?
Lucretia W on Sep 26, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Between 32 and 35 degrees, in a humid environment. You don't want them to freeze, but the closer you can keep the temperature to 32 degrees, the longer they will last.
chill hours for liberty apple?
Rick S on Nov 2, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Liberty requires 800 chill hours.

Customer Reviews

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4.5 / 5.0
37 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
27
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Liberty Apple
Great tree! Thanks for carrying it. I do think you should sell in dwarf.
Also, you should tell the buyer what the root stock is. It should not be kept a secret.
May 19, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
more bang for your buck!
I had already planted this tree from another nursery. That tree was described as the same size and caliber so I knew what to expect from Stark Bro's. What I got was a much larger bare root tree from Starks. For example, the 3/8" trunk equaled 3/4 above graft out of the box. Second, the tree I got had been pruned down to just under 48", If it hadn't I'm pretty sure it would have been 6'
Man, I'm just glad their tape measure is wrong!

No really, this is the second order I've made from Stark Bro's and I believe I have the obligation to convey, they have exceeded my out of box expectation both times. Thanks Stark Bro's
May 18, 2016
Lovely Libery Semi-dwarf appple tree
The tree arrived in good condition. It was pruned well and well shaped. In two years it beared eight perfect apples. No disease and I have not sprayed for insects.
June 17, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
good apple variety
Very good varieties. Though I was a little disappointed that they seem to be a favorite of Japanese beetles.
June 3, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Heavy producer of tender sweet apples.
The tree never fails to produce abundance of sweet tender juicy apples. The resistance to common apple diseases is a plus especially fire blight which has become a problem in the area due ornamental pear trees on neighboring properties that are infected year after year.
May 15, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Apple trees
I planted my freedom and liberty trees a year ago. They have grown 3 feet since last year. Very nice trees. Thank you.
August 21, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Liberty is growing great
bought 2 liberty apple trees last year and they have really put on some great growth! pleased with the quality of this variety of apple tree
August 3, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Rootstock lived, dead from graft union up
I'm very disappointed the rootstock lived, but the grafted tree died. The trees are dead from the graft union up.
May 21, 2017
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
2nd spring
Arrived in good shape. Still thriving and growing well in second year!
June 4, 2016
Growing by leaps and bounds!
This is a beautiful tree, growing very quickly and looking wonderfully healthy! I planted it just last Spring and am thrilled with how much it has grown already.
May 13, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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