Apple Size

This criteria is highly variable depending on crop load, nutrition, water uptake, and tree age. Among Montana heritage trees, however, this characteristic can be a distinguishing factor, quickly narrowing the search among similarly colored apples.  Size should be determined using a sample with multiple representative fruit from the tree.  Older trees, with heavy crop loads tend to have smaller fruit than general identification resources might reference.  This key uses sizes as observed in Montana heritage orchards.  Additionally, crabapples are categorized for the purposes of size as apples.  While classified as small in the key they may be large for crabapples.  Fruit should be measured equatorially.