Connell Red Apple

Malus x domestica ‘Connell Red’

Description & Overview

Connell Red apple is an improved sport of Fireside apple. While Fireside has a striped skin, Connell Red is a solid orange/red in color when fully ripe. The fruit can get very large and is excellent for fresh eating. Extremely cold hardy variety. Sweet and juicy flesh. Connell Red Apple ripens in early October in S.E Wisconsin.

Core Characteristics

Suggested Uses:

Best for fresh eating but can be used in pies as well. We offer this variety on M7 rootstock which is semi-dwarf and free-standing.

Wildlife Value:

Apple trees are relished by deer, numerous small mammals, and insects.

Connell Red has the quirky characteristic in that not all the fruit produce color well and reach full size. Often some of the fruits will remain small and refuse to color properly. Leave them on the tree for wildlife. This oddity is worth the trouble of growing this variety since the majority of the fruits will size up and can get exceptionally large.

Maintenance Tips:

Thinning the fruit of this variety to 12″ apart during June 10th-July 4th in SE WI can result in apples so big it is impossible to eat a whole one without assistance from family and friends. The fruit can grow to gigantic proportions if thinned properly. Wear a hard hat for safety when picking under this variety!

Like all apple varieties, annual pruning when dormant (late winter/early spring) is needed to promote better light penetration and air flow into the tree canopy. Learn about Training & Pruning Fruit Trees.

Pests/Problems:

A spray program or growing the fruit in bags (paper, plastic or cloth) is suggested to obtain a quality fruit crop. This variety has an exceptionally waxy skin that makes it less desirable to apple maggots. Find a spraying guide and more information on Best Pesticides For The Home Orchardist.

Leaf Lore:

This improved version of Fireside apple was noticed on some Fireside apple trees growing at the late Connell Orchard near Menomonie, WI in the late 1940’s by Tom Connell. It was later released as Connell Red Apple.

Companion Plants:

Connell Apple must be cross-pollinated with a crabapple or different apple variety to produce fruit.

CONNELL RED APPLE BENCHCARD