← All varieties

John's Sweet

Apple

John's Sweet

Origin/History

Originated in Lyndsboro, New Hampshire.

Tree

A good grower, somewhat straggling in habit. A prolific bearer. Young shoots reddish brown (Downing).

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Downing describes the fruit as roundish conic; Elliott and Thomas describe it as oblong or conic.

Stem: Short, inserted in a narrow cavity.

Cavity: Narrow, surrounded by russet.

Calyx: Closed.

Basin: Abrupt.

Skin: Whitish yellow, sprinkled, striped, and splashed with red.

Flesh/Flavor: Juicy, tender, sweet, with a peculiar flavor. Downing rates it Good.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

January to May.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

John's Sweet.

Origin, Lyndsboro, New Hampshire. Tree a good grower, somewhat straggling, a prolific bearer. Young shoots, reddish brown.

Fruit medium, roundish conic, whitish yellow, sprinkled, striped, and splashed with red. Stalk short, inserted in a narrow cavity, surrounded by russet. Calyx closed, set in an abrupt basin. Flesh juicy, tender, sweet. Good. January to May.

A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

John's Sweet.

Origin, Lyndsboro, New Hampshire. A good grower, somewhat straggling; a prolific bearer.

Fruit, medium, oblong or conic; skin, whitish yellow, sprinkled, striped, and splashed with red; stem, short, inserted in a narrow cavity, surrounded by russet; calyx, closed, set in an abrupt basin; flesh, juicy, tender, with a sweet peculiar flavor. January to May. (Downing.)

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

John's Sweet. Medium, oblong or conic, striped red on whitish-yellow; sweet, of a peculiar flavor. Winter. N. H.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)