Hudson's Golden Gem Apple Tree

Backyard orchard enthusiasts, health-conscious “clean eaters”, parents, history buffs and plant lovers should strongly consider adding heirloom apple trees to your landscape design. Sure, there is a learning curve to growing your own fruit. But the payoff is absolutely huge.

For one thing, you’ll be able to enjoy the amazing flavor of Hudson’s Golden Gem (Malus ’Hudson’s Golden Gem’). This precocious apple tree is one of our favorites.

It starts producing large apples early in its life. And what apples!

These big, conical-shaped apples feature a dull yellow, russet skin, a crisp, juicy flavor and a long “hang time” for convenient harvest.

No, it’s not going to win any beauty awards. Commercial growers might pass this one by due to lack of “sight appeal.” But for the backyard grower, there is so much more to fruit than just looks. Here, aroma and taste should be the most important considerations.

Hudson’s Golden Gem has become a first choice for fresh eating and for cider and juicing. They are one of the best-tasting apples around, period. And they’ll store in your refrigerator for months.

This was a chance seedling, but is now a prized heirloom variety with outstanding flavor. As with other russet skinned apples the old fashion pear flavor jumps out with a sugary-sweet, nutty richness.

Hudson’s Golden Gem is an annual-bearing fruit, so you can depend on a good crop each year. It has excellent resistance to common apple diseases.

Pollinate with any early to mid-season apples in Hardiness Zones 7-9, and with mid-season blooming selections in Hardiness Zones 4-6. Hudson’s Golden Gem can also be pollinated with Dolgo Crabapple.

For successive backyard harvests, plant with an early ripening McIntosh and a Yellow Newtown Pippin. You’ll enjoy fruit all season long.

Add one or more Hudson’s Golden Gem Apples to your edible landscape. It will become one of your most prized varieties. These will go quickly, order today if it’s in stock.

How to Use Hudson’s Golden Gem Apple Trees in the Landscape

Apple trees are beautiful and very showy in flower and fruit. Hudson’s Golden Gem is a robust, upright tree. It can become a wonderful focal point or specimen in your landscape design.

Nothing can compare with the tradition of an Apple tree in your own yard, ready for harvest. It’s a uniquely beautiful sight!

Use along your fence row to maximize space in your landscape. You'll also love the look. Plant 5 feet apart on center to create a solid screen. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

Allow 10 - 15 feet clearance from the fence or house to ensure good air circulation. You'll want to have plenty of room to harvest them, too.

Mix Hudson’s with tart apples like Granny Smith for out-of-this-world pies. This variety is also considered a must for juicing or as a flavor enhancer for your favorite cider. This is the perfect blending apple.

Of course, let’s not forget that this is a great variety fresh off the tree.

Often the fruit will hang for over a month after reaching full ripeness. It can be harvested and kept in storage for up to 3 months in a cool, dark place.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant in a full sun location with good soil drainage. Apples will tolerate wet soil, as long as it drains fast.

Look for full sun locations that favor the early morning sun. This is the drying sun and helps to cut down on moisture-related diseases.

We also recommend that you plant in a location with good air circulation. Avoid areas that trap air.

Hudson’s Golden Gem Apple is one of the more widely-adopted apple selections from Zones 4 - 9. It is cold hardy and there are even reports of success in bitterly cold Zone 3, if the trees are given good air drainage.

In warm dry climates, apply a layer of mulch 3 to 4 inches deep. Spread it out 3 feet outside of the canopy. This will keep the root system cool and cut down surface evaporation. Mulch also extends the period between watering to save on water.

Prune to control the overall height of the tree. We recommended keeping all fruit trees below 10 feet tall, for ease of maintenance and harvest. Summer pruning is the best way to control height and spread. In winter, prune to keep the canopy open to improve airflow and increase sunlight.

Hudson’s Golden Gem Apple is a very special heirloom variety of apple that belongs in all apple lovers’ collections. They go fast, so get yours ordered today!

Hudson's Golden Gem Apple Tree Frequently Asked Questions

When to Plant Hudson's Golden Gem 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 Hudson's Golden Gem 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 Hudson's Golden Gem 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 Hudson's Golden Gem 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 Hudson's Golden Gem 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 Hudson's Golden Gem 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

Hudson's Golden Gem Apple Tree Pollinating Info

Hudson's Golden Gem is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:

• McIntosh Apple Tree
• Yellow Transparent Apple Trees
• Dolgo Crabapple Tree
• Granny Smith Apple Tree

Harvest Times for Hudson's Golden Gem Apple Trees

Hudson's Golden Gem’s are typically ready to harvest in 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.