Apple Hardy heroine picked up after run finishing early (6)
I believe the answer is:
russet
'apple' is the definition.
(a russet-coloured apple)
'hardy heroine picked up after run finishing early' is the wordplay.
'hardy heroine' becomes 'tess' (in Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy novel).
'picked up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'finishing early' means to remove the last letter.
'tess' written backwards gives 'sset'.
'run' with its last letter removed is 'ru'.
'sset' after 'ru' is 'RUSSET'.
(Other definitions for russet that I've seen before include "Dessert apple" , "Brown; apple variety" , "Surest type of colour" , "Autumnal reddish-brown colour" , "Autumnal red as of leaves" .)