Golden Delicious apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are an American variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is one of the 15 most popular apple cultivars in the United States. It is not closely related to Red Delicious.
This apple variety was discovered in 1912 by Anderson Mullins, a farmer in Clay County, West Virginia. Initially, the apple was known as “Mullin’s Yellow Seedling.” The tree was found growing on Mullins’ farm, and its origin was somewhat mysterious, believed to be a chance seedling rather than a deliberate cultivation.
The apple was renamed “Golden Delicious” in 1914 by Stark Bro’s Nurseries, a company that bought the rights to propagate and market the apple. The name was chosen to capitalize on the already popular Delicious apple (Red Delicious), suggesting a connection in quality and appeal. Stark Bro’s Nurseries began promoting Golden Delicious aggressively. They were one of the first companies to use advertising extensively to promote a fruit variety. This marketing push, including sending free trees to influential people, helped Golden Delicious gain widespread popularity and by the 1920s, Golden Delicious was being grown in various parts of the United States and eventually worldwide.
Golden Delicious was designated the official state fruit of West Virginia by a Senate resolution on February 20, 1995.[9] Clay County has hosted an annual Golden Delicious Festival since 1972.
Today, Golden Delicious remains a staple in orchards and markets around the globe. It also has been extensively used in breeding programs due to its desirable traits. It’s one of the parent varieties for many modern apple cultivars. For example:
- Gala: A cross between Golden Delicious and Kidd’s Orange Red.
- Jonagold: A hybrid of Golden Delicious and Jonathan.
- Fuji: A cross between Ralls Janet and Golden Delicious.
According to the USApple Association website, as of 2008, Golden Delicious, along with its descendent cultivars Gala, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, and Jonagold, were among the fifteen most popular apple cultivars in the United States. In 2010, an Italian-led consortium announced they had decoded the complete genome of the Golden Delicious apple. It had the highest number of genes (57,000) of any plant genome studied to date.
Golden Delicious apples are generally round to slightly oval and golden yellow. The color can be from a pale, almost greenish-yellow when less ripe to a deeper, richer yellow when fully ripe. The skin might have a slight blush of red or pink in areas where the apple received more direct sunlight. The skin of Golden Delicious apples is smooth and thin, often with a slight waxy feel. It can sometimes exhibit russeting, which is a rough, brownish netting or patches, particularly around the stem or where the apple was attached to the tree.
They are medium to large in size, weighing between 5 to 10 ounces. The stem is usually short to medium in length and can be green or brown. The skin is not as thick as some other varieties, giving the apple a tender, almost delicate appearance. When cut open, the flesh is creamy white to light yellow, firm but not overly so, which gives it a fine, tender texture.
The flesh also encases a small central core filled with tiny dark brown seeds. Golden Delicious apples are faintly aromatic and have a balanced blend of sugar and acidity, creating a mild, sweet, and tangy taste with floral, honeyed, and fruity nuances. As they ripen, Golden Delicious apples might develop a slightly deeper yellow color, and the flesh becomes sweeter.
Golden Delicious apples as one of the best apples for baking apple pie due to its balanced flavor and its high pectin content that allows it to stay intact when cooked. The apples pair well with herbs such as mint, basil, sage, and rosemary, vanilla, chocolate, maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans.
Golden Delicious apples are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while reducing inflammation. The apples also provide small amounts of copper to develop connective tissues, magnesium to control optimal nerve functioning, and other nutrients, including iron, vitamin K, vitamin E, calcium, and zinc.
Cultivation
Climate and Soil Requirements:
- Climate: Golden Delicious apples thrive in temperate climates with cold winters to break dormancy and warm summers for fruit development. They require around 500 to 1000 chill hours (hours below 45°F or 7°C) to break dormancy properly.
- Soil: They prefer well-drained, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot, and while they can tolerate various soil types, the best growth occurs in soils rich in organic matter.
Planting:
- Rootstock Selection: The choice of rootstock affects the tree’s size, disease resistance, and fruit production. For Golden Delicious, dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks are often used for easier management and earlier fruiting.
- Spacing: Depending on the rootstock, trees are spaced anywhere from 8 to 20 feet apart in rows, with row spacing adjusted for machinery access.
- Planting Time: Typically planted in late winter to early spring before bud break, allowing roots to establish before the growing season.
Care and Maintenance:
- Pruning: Regular pruning is essential to shape the tree, improve air circulation, and manage fruit load. Golden Delicious trees benefit from a central leader system or modified central leader, which helps in maintaining a balanced canopy.
- Thinning: Fruit thinning is crucial to prevent over-cropping, which can lead to smaller, less flavorful apples. Thinning is usually done in late spring, reducing the number of fruits to one or two per cluster.
- Irrigation: Consistent moisture is important, especially during fruit development. Drip irrigation or micro-sprinklers are commonly used to provide water directly to the root zone, minimizing water waste.
- Nutrition: A balanced fertilization program is necessary, typically involving nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. Soil tests guide the exact needs, but generally, applications are split between spring and summer.
Pest and Disease Management:
- Diseases: Golden Delicious can be susceptible to apple scab, fire blight, powdery mildew, and cedar-apple rust. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including resistant rootstocks, fungicide sprays, and cultural practices like pruning for better air flow, are employed.
- Pests: Common pests include codling moth, apple maggot, and various aphids. Biological controls, pheromone traps, and insecticides are used as part of an IPM approach.
Harvesting:
- Timing: Golden Delicious apples ripen in late summer to early fall, typically around August to September in the Northern Hemisphere. Harvest timing is critical as they don’t store as well as some other varieties if picked too late.
- Indicators: Apples are ready when they have reached their full color, the seeds are brown, and the fruit easily separates from the spur with a slight upward twist.
Post-Harvest:
- Storage: Golden Delicious apples store moderately well, typically for 2-3 months in cold storage (32°F or 0°C). Controlled atmosphere storage can extend this period.