Sheppard's Sweet
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Sheppard's Sweet
Origin/History
Originated in Windham County, Connecticut.
Tree
Thrifty, upright in growth habit, and a great bearer.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish, approaching conic (Downing); angular oblong, approaching conic (Elliott); ovate, ribbed (Thomas); described as "re form" with the fruit being ribbed/angular in character (Lowther).
Stem/Stalk: Long and slender, inserted in an acute cavity.
Cavity: Acute.
Calyx: Firmly closed.
Basin: Small.
Skin: Yellow, striped with red; described by Lowther as striped or splashed with red.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, tender, sweet, and pleasant. Quality rated "Good" by Downing.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October to November; ripens in early autumn.
Uses
Used as a family apple.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Regional reports (Lowther, 1914): Northern Division reports cultivation; Central Division and Southern Division: not reported.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sheppard's Sweet.
Origin, Windham Co., Conn. Tree thrifty, upright, and a great bearer.
Fruit medium, roundish, approaching conic, yellow, striped with red. Stalk long, slender, inserted in an acute cavity. Calyx firmly closed, set in a small basin. Flesh white, tender, sweet and pleasant. Good. October, November.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Sheppard's Sweet is medium in size, of re form, with striped or splashed (red) skin. It is used as a family apple and ripens in early autumn. Northern Division reports: a; Central Division and Southern Division: not reported.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sheppard's Sweet.
Origin, Windham County, Conn. Tree, thrifty, upright, and a great bearer. Fruit, medium, angular oblong, approaching conic; skin, yellow, striped with red; stalk, long, slender, inserted in an acute cavity; calyx, firmly closed, set in a small basin; flesh, white, tender, sweet, and pleasant. October, November.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Sheppard's Sweet. Medium, ovate, ribbed, striped; sweet, pleasant. Autumn. Conn.