Tompkins King is a large, heirloom apple known since before 1804, earning its reputation as one of the most prized varieties for serious gardeners. Its yellow-green skin blazes with heavy red striping and blushing, making it as beautiful on the tree as it is versatile in the kitchen. Hardy from zones 4 through 9, this tip-bearing cultivar reaches 11 feet at maturity and demands full sun and moderate water. It excels fresh, in cider, and cooked into anything from sauce to pie, and stores impressively for 2 to 3 months after harvest.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
132in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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This triploid variety produces large, stunning fruit that justifies the extra care its growth habit demands. The distinctive tip-bearing character means fruit develops at the branch tips rather than along the stems, rewarding patient pruning with abundant crops. Its longevity in storage and multi-purpose nature make it far more than a backyard ornamental; it's a serious keeper apple that rewards the gardener willing to learn its specific needs.
Tompkins King shines equally as a fresh eating apple and as a workhorse in the kitchen. Its crisp flesh and balanced flavor make it excellent eaten straight from the tree, while its acidity and texture hold up beautifully in ciders, where it contributes depth and complexity. Cooks have long relied on it for applesauces, pies, and other baked applications where structure matters and flavor can develop during cooking.
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Plant dormant bare-root trees in early spring or fall. Choose a location with full sun exposure and space at least 15 to 20 feet from other trees. Dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the root system without crowding, and plant at the same depth it grew in the nursery. Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture through the first growing season.
Pick Tompkins King apples when they reach full size and the ground color shifts from pale yellow-green to a deeper golden tone beneath the red striping. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure and separate easily from the branch with a slight twist. Harvest in late summer to early fall, depending on your zone and local weather patterns. Store in a cool location around 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, where they will keep for 2 to 3 months.
Tompkins King is a tip bearer, meaning fruit develops at the ends of branches, so its pruning needs differ from spur-bearing varieties. Wait until two inches of new growth has appeared in spring before pruning. Then prune back to 6 to 8 inches of the previous year's growth, which will encourage the branch tips to set fruit. This variety is not suitable for espalier training due to its tip-bearing habit and growth character.
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“Known simply as King or King of Tompkins County, this apple was already established and celebrated before 1804, marking it as a truly ancient cultivar with deep American roots. Its name anchors it to Tompkins County in New York, where it likely originated and thrived in the region's temperate climate. The fact that it earned the status of 'highly prized' speaks to its reputation among fruit growers of earlier centuries, passed down through cultivation rather than modern breeding programs.”