All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (2023)

Rome apples are an heirloom apple with a tangy taste that make great baking apples. Unfortunately, the trees are highly susceptible to the major apple diseases, so many home growers end up frustrated by trees with short lives or poor fruit production.

All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (1)

History

Rome apples were originally called Gillet’s seedlings after Joel Gillet. Gillet lived in Rome Township, Ohio and found an apple seedling that he planted on his property. Several years later, the tree produced apples that he and his neighbors thought to be especially tasty.

Gillet’s cousin, Horatio Gillet, then took cuttings from the tree to reproduce it via grafts, and the variety took off in the local area. That apple tree began being known as the Rome, red Rome, or Rome beauty after the area from which it originated.

All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (2)

In the mid 1800s, when Gillet came across his seedling, there were thousands of types of apples in the united states. It would have been common for communities to gravitate to a particular tree variety found in nearby area. Before the world of commercial agriculture, our 19th century ancestors did not get apples shipped across the country.

Instead, they had what was local to them, so the Rome likely seemed noteworthy in comparison to the other apples they had available. The red color, sweet flavor, and softball size that we appreciate are actually biologically rare traits in apples, making the Rome seedling quite the find back in 1817.

How do Rome apples taste?

Rome apples sport a very traditional flavor – mildly sweet and slightly tangy with a bit of a floral aroma. It is exactly that middle-of-the-road flavor that makes it one of the top-10 sold apples in the United States.

Ways to Use Rome Apples

All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (3)

Rome apples hold their shape well when baked because they have a thick skin, so they are generally chosen for baking project, so you can use them in your favorite apple dumpling or apple muffin recipe. In the 1900s, they were called the Queen of Baking Apples.

Rome aficionados lean toward to preparations: fried apples and baked apples.

Fried apple slices are like onion rings made of apples! Apples are thinly sliced, dipped in batter, and fried. You can dust them with cinnamon and sugar and dip in caramel or chocolate sauce.

All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (4)

With baked apples, you hollow out the center and fill with sugar, cinnamon, butter, and spices before baking the whole apple in the oven. You will end up with a soft, gooey apple dessert that is hard to beat. Another option is to fill your baked apples with a cheesecake mixture, or, if you are trying to make better life choices, granola and honey for breakfast.

Health Benefits of Rome Apples

There is a reason mothers and doctors everywhere push apples into children’s hands: they are consistently a low-calorie snack with importantnutritional elements.

Rome apples have plenty of soluble and insoluble fire, which in addition to controlling cholesterol, helps with digestion.The skin is loaded with Vitamin C.Calorie counters can plan for 70 to 80 calories per apple.

Where to Buy Rome Apples

All About Rome Apples - the Queen of Baking Apples - Minneopa Orchards (5)

The trees will be marketed under both the Rome and Rome beauty names; keep in mind they are two names for the exact same apple tree. They are fairly easy to find, so there is a good chance you can pick up a tree at your local nursery.

If you find a Rome tree in your local, in-person options are limited, you may have more success online.

Georgia’s Ty-Ty Nursery sells the tree in several sizes, and you can get a good-sized tree for under $100 to give yourself a head-start. They are also available from Stark Bros.

If you cannot find the fresh fruit in your local grocery store, try a different apple tree from Nature Hills Nursery.

How to Grow Rome Apples

Rome apple trees are considered easy to grow, so they are great trees for first-time apple planters. They grow best in zones 4-9 and require 700 chill hours.

Appearance and What to Expect in Your New Tree

The growth of this fruit tree ranges depending on which version of the tree you get; they come in dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard sizes. Dwarfs grow 8 to 10 feet; semi-dwarfs grow 12 to 15 feet; and the standard size trees grow up to 20 feet.

Many of the newer apple cultivars only come in dwarf and semi-dwarf sizes, so the availability of the standard size is a huge bonus for people who would love a fruiting shade tree, or a big, old-fashioned tree for kids to play on.

Keep in mind that Rome apple trees are highly susceptible to scab, fire blight, powdery mildew, and cedar-apple rust. Providing they stay healthy, they produce prolific yields, and they were once called a mortgage maker for apple growers.

The apple itself will be a bright, shiny red with many lenticels dotting the skin.

Planting and Growth

Plant your apple tree in full sun and loamy, well-drained soilso when you are digging your hole that is at least twice as wide and deep as the root ball, toss in some compost or manure as you backfill if you do not have naturally loamy soil. They do the best in neutral soil (soil pH of 6.0-7.0), and if you have any doubts about the makeup of your soil, check in with your local extension office. They usually offer soil sample testing.

These trees are self-pollinating, meaning they do not need another nearby apple tree to produce fruit, but you can expect improved fruit production if you plant another apple tree nearby, and they produce apples in only 2-3 years after planting.

Recommended pollination partners include the Akane, Honeycrisp, and Empire apples.

Pruning

Rome apple trees benefit from aggressive pruning. While it can seem counter-intuitive to chop off fruit-bearing trees, your grit will be rewarded with increased yields and improved tree health in following seasons. Because Rome apple trees produce such large crops, failure to prune set your tree up to break under the weight of a big crop on a poorly managed canopy.

Failure to properly prune your fruit trees can lead to needless breakage from inclement weather and can promote the growth of molds and fungi due to decreased air circulation in the canopy.

Similar Fruits

Rome apples are far from the only good baking apple nowadays. Thanks to the professional apple breeding programs across the world, we no longer rely on a chance seedling to create a good apple. Instead, botanists intentionally graft and cross-pollinate trees to give us different apply varieties with specific desirable traits. Other cooking apples that maintain their form and provide a sweet, tart taste are the honeycrisp and pink lady.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of apples were there when the Rome apple was found?

Botanists estimate that there were about 14,000 types of apples in North America in the 1800s! Apples are native to North America, but today’s consumer would not recognize many of those now-extinct types of apples. Some apples were rough and bumpy, some were shaped like potatoes, some were tiny like cherries, and others were huge like grapefruits!

For how long will Rome apples keep?

Red Rome apples will last 3-5 months in cold storage. Remember to keep them in your crisper on the vegetable setting to maintain enough humidity to prevent the skin from shriveling. Do not wash the apples until you are ready to eat. Apples kept at room temperature age much more quickly than those stored in the refrigerator.

Now You Know All About Rome Apples!

Excited for more apple content?Visit my apple trees pageto learn more about apple planting, growing, picking, cooking, and more!

FAQs

Are Rome apples good for baking? ›

Rome apples hold their shape well when baked because they have a thick skin, so they are generally chosen for baking project, so you can use them in your favorite apple dumpling or apple muffin recipe. In the 1900s, they were called the Queen of Baking Apples.

Are Rome apples good for eating? ›

Rome apples are best suited for cooked applications such as baking, frying, and roasting. Their dense flesh holds up well when baked making them perfect for use in pies, cakes, bread, and cookies. Their flavor is also enhanced when cooked, becoming sweeter and exceptionally rich.

What happened to Rome Beauty apples? ›

Since the apple was planted in Rome Township, it was renamed the Rome Beauty in 1832 to honor the township. The original tree that was planted survived well into the 1850's until it was felled by river bank erosion. Today Proctorville, Ohio considers itself the “Home of the Rome Beauty Apple.”

What is the best eating apple in the world? ›

The best apple for snacking is really a matter of personal preference, but you can't go wrong with a SweeTango®, Honeycrisp, Piñata®, Pink Lady or Fuji apple. All varieties will give you that fresh, crisp sweetness you're craving.

What apple is comparable to a Rome apple? ›

Mild Rome apples are great for baking this scrumptious upside-down cake, however, you can also use Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Jonagold apples.

Do Rome apples make good pie? ›

Rome: Another super red apple, Romes are mildly tart, and can be used just about any way you'd want to use an apple. In pies and crisps, a blend of Rome and Golden Delicious is great. They are one of the best apples around to include in apple sauce.

What does Rome apple taste like? ›

It is commonly described as less desirable as an eating apple because of its subtle flavor that is not as sweet, flashy, or tart as some other varieties. It comes to market in late September and is considered a good keeper. Rome apples are widely grown and available, and are a staple variety in American commerce.

Can you eat baking apples raw? ›

Yes, cooking apples are safe to eat raw. They are simply more tart than most people prefer, as there is less sugar in them than dessert apples (like paradise apples).

What are the best baking apples? ›

Which apples bake best? For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What are the top 5 best tasting apples? ›

But which apples are the best-tasting apples? Some of the best-tasting apple varieties are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Ambrosia, and Cox's Orange Pippin. These varieties are most flavorful when picked at peak ripeness and eaten within a few months of harvest.

Are Rome apples mushy? ›

Rome. Flavor: Very mild when eaten out of hand; not very sweet, but develops in flavor when cooked. Texture: It has a thick skin and very firm flesh.

Why apple are not eaten at night? ›

Potential downsides of eating apples before bed

Studies suggest that eating late at night may increase your susceptibility to obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol ( 23 ).

What is healthier than an apple? ›

Apples vs oranges

A clear winner comes forth if you're trying to boost your immune system before the winter hits. While apples contain more fiber, an important nutrient that aids in healthy digestion and lowering cholesterol, oranges provide more vitamins and minerals including the ever-powerful vitamin C.

What is the 1 best fruit in the world? ›

10 Best Rated Fruits in the World
  • Cherry. Wiśnia Nadwiślanka. Lublin Voivodeship. ...
  • Apple. Firiki Piliou. Magnesia. ...
  • Citrus Fruit. Cítricos Valencianos. Valencian Community. ...
  • Fig. Aydın İnciri. Aydın Province. ...
  • Apple. Honeycrisp Apples. ...
  • Orange. Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis. ...
  • Berry. Açaí Berries. ...
  • Fig. Syka Vavronas Markopoulou Messongion.
Feb 7, 2023

Are Rome apples good for apple pie? ›

Rome: Another super red apple, Romes are mildly tart, and can be used just about any way you'd want to use an apple. In pies and crisps, a blend of Rome and Golden Delicious is great. They are one of the best apples around to include in apple sauce.

Are Rome apples good for apple butter? ›

A Rome apple's firm, white-pink flesh retains its shape beautifully when cooked. Great for applesauce, apple butter, pies, baking and freezing. Try combining Rome apples with a sweeter apple, like Golden Delicious or Mutsu for delicious applesauce or butter.

What are Regent apples good for? ›

A mid-sized variety of apple that has bright red outer skin with pale green markings and a cream-colored crisp, juicy inner flesh. This apple has a sweet flavor similar to a Delicious apple and is an excellent apple for salads, baking, cooking, or for eating out of hand as a snack.

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