December 9: Fireside

McIntosh x Longfield
University of Minnesota
1943

Fireside is a beautiful apple with gorgeous, flame-orange striping. It’s large, fine-grained, creamy and sweet with not much acid but enough to keep it interesting. It’s wonderfully fragrant and it holds its shape when baked, so I frequently include it as part of a pie blend. It’s also an excellent keeper.

It was developed by Charles Haralson at the U of M’s Agricultural Research Station in 1917, was selected as MN993, and was released as “Fireside” in 1943, likely for FDR’s fireside chats.

One of its parents, McIntosh, is well known and many crosses have been made from it. The other parent, Longfield, was actually a Russian variety known as Glogerovka (aka Lithuanian Pippin, Pepinka Litovskaya), which was brought to the U.S. by the USDA in 1870.

Read Adam’s Apples account of Fireside.

Growing Notes

Fireside is generally regarded as easy to grow, vigorous and annually bearing. Unlike many apple trees, it grows in more of a weeping habit. If you’re in a far north climate, Fireside is hardy to Zone 3!