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Apple 'Gold Rush'

7-Gallon

Height: 12-15 feet tall.
Spread: 10-12 feet.
Sunlight: Full sun.
Hardiness Zone: 5a.
Other Names: Malus domestica 'Gold Rush'

Description:
A late-season apple variety prized for its exceptional storage life and rich, complex flavor. 'Gold Rush' produces medium to large golden-yellow apples with a crisp texture and a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. This highly disease-resistant variety is an excellent choice for home orchards, offering reliable yields and outstanding quality fruit well into winter.

Edible Qualities:
Apple 'Gold Rush' is known for its firm, juicy flesh and excellent storage capability. The flavor intensifies in storage, developing a sweet, tangy taste with hints of spice. Its versatility makes it ideal for a wide range of culinary uses.

The fruit is most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Baking
- Cider Making
- Sauces
- Long-Term Storage

Features & Attributes:
Apple 'Gold Rush' showcases vibrant green foliage during the growing season, with fragrant white blossoms in spring that attract pollinators. The golden-yellow apples develop a slight russeting as they mature, adding to their unique appeal. Its fruit maintains crispness in storage for up to six months.

This is a deciduous tree with a naturally upright and spreading growth habit. Its strong disease resistance, particularly to apple scab and mildew, makes it a low-maintenance choice for growers.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Apple 'Gold Rush' is suitable for the following landscape applications:
- Orchard/Edible Landscaping
- Home Gardens

Planting & Growing:
Apple 'Gold Rush' will grow to be about 12-15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10-12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3-4 feet from the ground. It grows at a medium rate and, under ideal conditions, can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It requires cross-pollination with another apple variety for optimal fruit production. It is drought-tolerant once established but benefits from consistent watering during dry periods. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages better fruit production. A layer of mulch around the base helps retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.

Additional Characteristics:
- Late Ripening
- Disease Resistant
- Excellent Storage Life
- Pollination Required
- Cold Hardy