Summer Spitzenburg
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Summer Spitzenburg
Origin/History
Originated with Woolsey Ostrander of Plattekill, Ulster County, New York. The variety is little grown in New York and is not considered valuable for commercial planting, as the fruit is apt to be undersized and drops badly. By some it is esteemed for home use.
Tree
The two principal sources give somewhat differing accounts of tree character. Downing describes the tree as moderately vigorous, forming a round head, and an early and abundant bearer annually. Beach, citing the same variety, describes the tree as large, upright or roundish, a good grower, hardy, long-lived, and reliably productive, yielding good crops biennially — in contrast to Downing's characterization of annual bearing. Both agree the tree is a reliable producer.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium; roundish conical, slightly angular.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Medium, sometimes slightly russeted.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Medium, slightly corrugated.
Skin: Whitish ground, almost entirely covered with two shades of red in stripes and splashes, some of which are quite dark; overspread with a thin bloom. Beach notes it is a September apple of attractive color.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white; half tender; moderately juicy; subacid, and a little aromatic. Quality rated good to very good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
August and September.
Uses
Esteemed by some for home use. Not considered valuable for commercial planting due to tendency toward undersized fruit and pre-harvest drop.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Summer Spitzenburgh.
French Spitzenburgh.
Originated with Woolsey Ostrander, Plattekill, N. Y. Tree moderately vigorous, forming a round head; an early and abundant bearer annually.
Fruit medium, roundish conical, slightly angular; skin whitish, almost entirely covered with two shades of red in stripes and splashes, some of which are quite dark, and covered with a thin bloom; stalk short; cavity medium, sometimes slightly russeted; calyx closed; basin medium, slightly corrugated; flesh yellowish white, half tender, moderately juicy, subacid, and a little aromatic; good to very good. August, September.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SUMMER SPITZENBURG.
REFERENCE.
- Downing, 1872:36 app. fig.
SYNONYMS. French Spitzenburgh (1). SUMMER SPITZENBURGH (1).
This is a September apple of attractive color. It is but little grown in New York. The tree is large, upright or roundish, a good grower, hardy, long-lived and reliably productive yielding good crops biennially. It is not considered valuable for commercial planting because the fruit is apt to be undersized and drops badly. By some it is esteemed for home use.
Historical. Downing states that it originated with Woolsey Ostrander, Plattekill, Ulster county, N. Y. (1).
FRUIT (1). Fruit medium, whitish almost covered with red and overspread with thin bloom. Flesh moderately juicy, a little aromatic, good to very good. Season August and September.