Cultivar 334: Harvest Special

Harvest Special is a prairie apple introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960. Its parentage is given as Columbia x Melba.[S1] [S2] [S4] Patterson is linked to the introduction, and University of Saskatchewan release material lists the selection as A60-203.[S1] [S4] It was part of the mid century prairie effort to produce useful apples under Saskatchewan field conditions.[S2] [S4]

Sources describe the fruit as early to mid season, slightly oblong, mostly red with striping, and attractive when sound.[S4] Size reports differ. One source lists fruit at about 5.2 cm, another table classifies it as small, and Saskatchewan introduction notes say it can reach about 2 1/4 by 2 inches but often bears many smaller apples.[S1] [S4] The prairie index table lists the flesh as yellowish.[S2] Quality is described as good, but it was not considered a good keeper.[S1] Sources also say it tends to break down early, which helps explain why it was treated more as an early processing apple than a long storing dessert сорт.[S2] [S4]

Its use was practical rather than elite. The prairie description table lists it for processing, and the cultivar notes describe it as early and not a good keeper.[S1] [S2] The Saskatoon introduction sheet says it is of good quality when sound, which suggests it could be attractive and useful at harvest but less reliable afterward.[S4]

Harvest Special is closely tied to Saskatchewan. The cultivar index names the University of Saskatchewan as the source, and the introduction sheet describes the fruit under non irrigated field conditions at Saskatoon.[S2] [S4] That gives it firm prairie context, but the sources here do not state a hardiness zone directly.[S2] [S4]

Later evaluations were not very enthusiastic. A 1976 Saskatchewan hortfacts note groups Harvest Special with apples that lack size and or quality.[S3] That does not remove its historical interest. It remains a named University of Saskatchewan introduction from an important breeding period, and its Columbia x Melba parentage places it within the prairie search for early, useful apples that could crop under difficult conditions.[S3] [S4]

Summary source basis

• S1: Edible Apples in Prairie Canada
• S2: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S3: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S4: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Season is early.”
— ^[3]

“Early.”
— ^[1]

“Good quality.”
— ^[1]

“Often produces many smaller apples.”
— ^[1]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Parentage given as Columbia x Melba.
• Parentage listed as 'Columbia' x 'Melba'.
• Parentage is Columbia x Melba.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• A60-203 Harvest Special Columbia x Melba 1960 Early to mid-season slightly oblong, up to 2 1/4" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, predominantly red with striping attractive and of good quality when sound, tends to breakdown prematurely.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• A60-203 Harvest Special Columbia x Melba 1960 Early to mid-season slightly oblong, up to 2 1/4" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, predominantly red with striping attractive and of good quality when sound, tends to breakdown prematurely.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• A60-203 Harvest Special Columbia x Melba 1960 Early to mid-season slightly oblong, up to 2 1/4" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, predominantly red with striping attractive and of good quality when sound, tends to breakdown prematurely.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• A60-203 Harvest Special Columbia x Melba 1960 Early to mid-season slightly oblong, up to 2 1/4" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, predominantly red with striping attractive and of good quality when sound, tends to breakdown prematurely.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context