Ben Davis Apple Tree

OUR STORY

Bring history, resilience, and a massive harvest to your backyard with the Ben Davis apple tree. Known to 19th-century farmers as the "Mortgage Lifter," this rugged heirloom powerhouse built fortunes across the American frontier. If you are looking for a reliable, disease-resistant tree that produces heavy annual crops when other varieties fail, the Ben Davis is the ultimate choice for the modern homesteadDating back to the early 1800s, the Ben Davis became the king of commercial apples following the Civil War. In an era before refrigeration, growers relied on its thick skin and incredible durability to ship millions of barrels across the country and overseas to Europe. It is the legendary variety that famously inspired Stark Bro’s to hunt for a better-tasting competitor, which ultimately led to the discovery of the Red Delicious. 🍏 Flavor Profile & Textures • Fresh off the tree: Firm, dense, coarse, and mildly tart. • The Secret: The Ben Davis is a true "winter apple." Its flavor dramatically improves, mellows, and sweetens after 1 to 2 months in cold storage, turning into a delicious late-winter treat when other apples have rotted away. 🥧 Culinary Versatility • Baking: A baker's dream. The coarse flesh holds its shape perfectly in pies, tarts, and crisps without turning to mush. • Hard Cider: Making a massive resurgence among artisanal cider makers for adding excellent body and balance to cider blends. • Storage: Incredible shelf life, keeping beautifully in a root cellar or refrigerator for 3 to 5 months. 🪵 Growing Profiles & Specifications • USDA Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 – 8 (Incredibly cold-hardy, heat-tolerant, and resilient against late spring frosts). • Chill Hours: Requires 600 – 800 chill hours below 45°F. • Bloom Time: Mid-to-Late Season (Group 3/4). Its later bloom helps it dodge damaging early spring frosts. 🐝 Pollination Partners While partially self-fertile, the Ben Davis will produce significantly heavier crops when planted near a cross-pollination partner that blooms at the same time. Excellent matches include: • Cortland (Its famous descendant!) • Jonathan • Grimes Golden • Empire Trees are bench grafted 1/4-3/16 inch diameter and 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall when shipped.

INGREDIENTS