Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Introducing Triumph™ Apple Tree
Find out more about the brand new UMN apple from the Arb’s Horticultural Research Center (their 28th apple introduction), how long it took to make, what its name means, what it tastes like, why it was developed and when you can get a tree for your yard.
A Triumph over apple scab!
The latest apple cultivar from the University of Minnesota renowned apple breeding team is a triumph! Triumph™, MN80 cultivar, has been released to nurseries for propagation and growers can now start placing orders for trees to plant starting in 2021.
Triumph™, which was created by crossing ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Liberty’, produces attractive fruit with occasional stem bowl russeting. It has shown excellent scab tolerance and contains two forms of genetic scab resistance.
Taste-wise, Triumph™ is a pleasantly tart and well-balanced red apple with good storage life. It will be ready to harvest in late September, similar to or slightly later than its parent ‘Honeycrisp’ and is hardy to USDA zone 4.
Triumph™ has been released as an “open variety” (tree royalty only) which means growers can purchase trees directly from nurseries that are licensed by the University of Minnesota to propagate and sell Triumph™ apple trees. Nurseries that are interested in obtaining a license to propagate and sell Triumph™ should contact Technology Commercialization.
The following nurseries are currently licensed to propagate and sell Triumph™ trees:
• Cameron Nursery (WA)
• Gold Crown Nursery (WA)
• Moser Fruit Tree Sales (MI)
• Bailey Nurseries (MN)
• Adams County Nursery (PA)
• Schlabach’s Nursery and Orchard (NY)
• Wafler Family Orchard (NY)
This list will be updated on the Licensed Nurseries: Apples Page.
Consumers will need to wait to get their first bite of Triumph™ as it takes several years for new trees to bear fruit. But those interested in growing their own apple trees can purchase this new variety as it becomes available at local nurseries over the next several years. Visit UMN Extension to learn more about growing apple trees in your home garden.
Characteristics
| Flavor: | Pleasantly tart, well balanced |
| Texture: | Firm; usually 17-22 lbs pressure at harvest |
| Features: | Attractive fruit with excellent scab resistance, good fresh eating qualities and long storage life. Maybe particularly suitable for direct market and organic producers. |
| Region: | Zone 4 hardy, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map. |
| Growth Habit: | Spreading |
| Vigor: | Medium |
| Productivity: | Consistent annual bearing |
| Bloom: | Mid-season |
| Ripening Season: | Late September, similar to Honeycrisp or up to one week later |
| Fruit Shape: | Globose (round) |
| Fruit Size: | 2.8-3.2 inches (7.1-8.1 cm) |
| Skin Color: | 75-90 prercent red |
| Fruit Adherence: | Good |
| Scab Response: | Excellent tolerance, contains two forms of genetic scab resistance |
| Fire Blight Response: | None observed |
| Cedar Apple Rust Response: | Low to moderate susceptability |
| Storage Life: | Good, up to six months in common storage without 1-MCP |
| Culinary Use: | Great for fresh eating |
Triumph™ is a trademark of the University of Minnesota.
