Spartan

Origin / History

Originated at the Dominion Experiment Station, Summerland, B.C.; a cross of McIntosh and Newtown. Introduced commercially in 1936. Zielinski (1964) suggests it "only for limited grower trials at present." Way (1979), writing of New York, calls it "an attractive McIntosh type."

Tree

Of the McIntosh type. Fruit drops badly; stop-drop sprays are required (Way).

Fruit

Size: Above medium to medium. Zielinski gives above medium in one passage and medium sized in another; in New York only medium sized (Way).

Form: McIntosh in shape, but more symmetrical and uniform.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Thin, tender; solid, dark-red blush. Well colored (Way).

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh firm, crisp, juicy, light cream in color; firmer than McIntosh (Way). General quality "good," slightly different from McIntosh and slightly sweeter (Zielinski). Way gives "excellent fresh eating quality, which should encourage repeat sales."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Matures a little later than Kendall. Harvested about 2 weeks after McIntosh (Zielinski) or about a week after McIntosh (Way). Under normal orchard practices fruit stores until January (Zielinski). Storage life several weeks longer than that of McIntosh (Way). Under high tree vigor, fruit breakdown may occur in storage (Zielinski). Severe storage breakdown has been a problem in the west but less so in the east; after thinning to obtain good fruit size, Spartan sometimes breaks down badly in New York too (Way).

Uses

Fresh eating. Especially suited for marketing in polyethylene bags (Way).

Subtypes / Variants

Some trees tend to sport from the solid blushed type to a striped form of fruit, lower in grade than the blushed type (Zielinski). Grafting wood and trees should be selected with care.

Other

Not described in source.