Red Winter Sweet

Apple

Red Winter Sweet

Origin / History

Origin unknown. Specimens came from Kentucky, although the fruit there was stated to have come from Virginia or Maryland. Thomas lists it under Va. and Ky.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Roundish, conic.

Stem: Stalk short.

Cavity: Small.

Calyx: Small, closed.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Deep crimson, or deep red, on yellow, with indistinct splashes and stripes; striped.

Dots: Large and small, light.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellow, a little coarse, rich, honeyed sweet; Thomas says "very sweet."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Early winter; December to February.

Uses

Fine for cooking.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 4 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois, Missouri

Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (2)

Red Winter Sweet. Origin unknown. Specimens from Kentucky, although the fruit is there stated to have come from Virginia or Maryland. Fruit medium, roundish conic, deep crimson on yellow, with indistinct splashes and stripes, large and small light dots. Stalk short. Cavity small. Calyx small, closed. Flesh yellow, a little coarse, rich, honeyed sweet. Fine for cooking. December, February.

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

Red Winter Sweet. Medium, roundish, striped deep red; coarse, rich, very sweet. Early winter. Va. and Ky.

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

Shockley Sweet Romanite