Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Tree

Nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting plenty of beautiful and great-tasting apples from your own tree. Mid-season Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple (Malus x 'Campbell Jonathan') is a wonderful new cultivar discovered at Peters Orchard in Missouri with bold stripes of deep red alternating with bright red.

Crisp, juicy flesh is a good balance between sweet and tart...aromatic and perfect for fresh eating. Chrisolyn Johnathan apples are great keepers, too!

Planting and Application:

Reliable production about three weeks earlier than other Jonathan's make this pick a top choice for successive harvest plans...and you can generally harvest them all in one day! Pair them in a trio of mid-season bloomers like Gala and Granny Smith apples for a delicious addition to pie, cobbler and other desserts.

• Rethink the orchard by including Apple trees in your Edible Landscape. Plant a pair of pollination partners on either side of your front walkway!
• Soft clouds of white blooms cover Crisolyn Jonathan Apple trees in spring. People nowadays may have forgotten the beauty of developing apple harvest...but the bounty makes a very charming display.
• Plant fruiting trees as a backdrop for your Victory Garden. Keep the lower growing vegetables and fruit bushes on the sunny side to maximize the food value of your property.
• It's fine to keep your Apple trees smaller with summer pruning for size control. Imagine how much easier it will be to harvest your apples if you maintain the trees under eight feet tall!
• You can even consider a high-density planting, with pollination partners planted two feet apart in either a triangle (3-in-1) or square (4-in-1). Remove branches growing into the center of the planting for proper air circulation and sunlight penetration.

#ProPlantTips for Care: 

Apple trees produce best in full sun with at least six hours of sunlight a day. Provide well-drained soil and good air circulation; along with symbiotic Nature Hills Root Booster in the planting hole as life-long support of the tiny feeder roots.

• Water Apple trees on a consistent schedule through the fruit development. Poke your finger down into the soil near the base of your tree and apply water when it starts to get dry.
• Read how to prune your fruit trees to establish the structure branches in late winter to provide a framework for the fruiting spurs. Prune to control size in summer if you want to keep your trees smaller.
• Add a three-inch layer of mulch around the trunk, then pull it back away from touching the stems. Fertilize with a specialty formula for fruiting trees in early spring...and reapply according to the label directions.

Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Tree Frequently Asked Questions

When to Plant Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.

How to Plant Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment. Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets.

Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of Arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.

When to Prune Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.

How to Prune Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Dormant prune to:

• Remove any double leaders or narrow crotch angles
• Eliminate any crossing branches
• Thin interior branching and leave the fruiting spurs and strong branches in place opening up the canopy
• Branching at least 24-36 inches above the ground

Prune Apple trees in the summer to:

• Control size and shape by reducing the length of longer new growth on vigorous trees
• Remove water sprouts on the main trunk or older branches in the crown
• Remove suckers at the base of the trunk
• Thin fruit during heavy years on established trees

How to Care for Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Growing an apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle!

• Apple trees do best in full sun and well-drained soil
• Water your apple trees when it gets dry - especially during the fruit production stage, and drought periods to keep it stress-free
• Use arborists' wood chips to mulch over the roots of your apples and have your soil tested to see what your soil may be lacking before adding fertilizers
• Maintenance pruning and shaping

Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.

How to Fertilize Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions.

Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester.

Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.

• Don't overdo it
• Phosphates are your friends
• Pay attention to pH in areas with extremely high or low soil pH
• Follow the directions

Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Tree Pollinating Info

Chrisolyn™ Jonathan is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:

• Cortland Apple Tree
• Freedom Apple Tree
• Fuji Apple Tree
• Granny Smith Apple Tree
• Honeycrisp Apple Tree
• McIntosh Apple Tree
• Pixie Crunch Apple Tree
• Empire Apple Tree
• Pink Lady Apple Tree

Harvest Times for Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Trees

Chrisolyn™ Jonathan’s are typically ready to harvest in late August through early September.

Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new apple tree growers. Weather, climate and your tree determine when it's ripe.

For Apples:

• Early-season is usually June-July
• Mid-season can be August-September
• Late-season can be from late September-November

The growing season consists of spring, summer, and fall, and varies with climate and weather. Areas with longer growing seasons in the warmer hardiness zones can greatly affect the harvest times for each particular apple variety grown in your area. Learn which growing zone you are in.

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Apple Tree for sale here at NatureHills.com!