Apples

Apples like a long growing season with a definite cold season and a definite hot season (not too hot) in rich well drained soil and full sun.  They can tolerate -40°C but flowers can be destroyed at -4°C

Best planted in winter, add plenty of rotten manure and secure with a stake.  Firm the soil around the tree and water well.

Apple trees should be pruned in winter.  Create fruit bearing spurs by cutting back the fresh growth to two buds.

Storing:  Apples are ready to pick when raised slightly they come away easily,  if left too long on the tree they will become soft and floury.  Keep in cool dry individual wrapped in tissue and stored in boxes or store on slatted wooden trays.  Apples will continue to sweeten after harvesting. 

February

  • Cox’s Orange Pippin – Reddish blush, yellow with russet. Sweet apple with rich and nutty flavoured flesh that is very aromatic. Stores well. Medium growth rate.  Grows to 4 metres.  Pollinators: Adore, Ariane, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, , Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Discovery – Heretage dessert apple from the UK.  Rosy red flushed fruit. The flesh is crisp and juicy with a sharp taste. When left to ripen on the tree the fruit becomes sweeter with a taste that is reminiscent of strawberries. Medium to rapid growth grate.  Grows to 6 metres.
  • Gala – Nice red blush to the yellow skin. Crisp, crunchy, white juicy flesh that is aromatic and just tastes so good when picked straight off the tree.   Medium growth rate.  Grows to 5 metres.  Pollinators:  Adore, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Initial – Large, red, aromatic fruit taste fantastic.  Crunchy and sweet but not too acid.  Bred to have a high resistance to disease – perfect for the organic gardener.  Good for espalier  Medium growth rate.  Grows to 4 metres.  Pollinators: Adore, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Lobo – Large, smooth, flat, round apples with deep red skin.Very large Canadian apple is ideal for eating, juicing and baking.  Good keeper.
  • Oratia Beauty –  Red New Zealand selection of Gravenstein – one of the world’s most esteemed old apples. Best left on the tree to mature, develops a wonderful crisp, juicy, tart flavour. Great for using for apple sauce and in baking. This large, round to slightly flattened fruit ripens early in the apple season. The tree blooms early and is very vigorous.Pollinators:Ballerina Bolero, Ballerina Polka, Ballerina Waltz, Braeburn, Discovery, Egremont Russet and Liberty.
  • Pacific Beauty
  • Royal Gala – Rosy red blushed skin. Creamy fine textured flesh, crisp, sweet and juicy. (Eating) Pollinators:  Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Worchester Pearmain – Worcester Pearmain produces a bright red medium-sized fruit with crisp and juicy flesh and an intense strawberry flavour. This very sweet apple is popular with children. The tree is a heavy and regular early season bearer.

March

  • Adore – A crisp and juicy mid season apple. Adore fruit is tasty, crisp and juicy. The fruit ripens mid season and stores well for 2-3 months.Pollinators:  Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Ariane – Ripening in late summer, Ariane trees produce medium sized fruit with a sweet/sharp balanced flavour. The fruit is delicious eaten straight from the tree or refrigerated for winter eating. Self fertile.  Ariane is a black spot resistant, so is perfect for organic growing.Pollinators for Ariane include other mid flowering varieties such as Royal Gala, Initial, Kidds Orange Red, Peasgood Nonsuch, Monty’s Surprise, Baujade, Priscilla, Granny Smith and Freyburg.
  • Ballerina Bolero –  ‘Bolero’ has shiny green eating apples with a golden blushPollinators include all other Ballerina varieties as well as Egremont Russet and Liberty.
  • Blenheim Orange – Large, round, flat fruit with skin that is shaded orange-yellow. The yellow flesh is crisp, sweet, juicy and aromatic with a distinctive nutty flavour. Great for fresh eating or cooking.Pollinators:Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Cox’x Orange Pippin, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Blush Babe – Crisp and juicy, sweet tasting, red skinned apples
  • Braeburn – Crisp, firm and juicy with yellowish green skin that is broadly striped with red. Sweet flavour balanced with a moderate tartness for just a little zingPollinators: Liberty, Discovery, Egremont Russet as well as any of the Ballerina series.
  • Dayton
  • Divine – Divine® fruit has a mild sweetness with moderate acidity and light cottony crisp flesh – very similar to Royal Gala. Late summer picking. Best flavoured when refrigerated for up to 3 months. Black spot resistant – so great for organic growing.  Self fertile.
  • Egremont Russet – A classic russet, with a very rich, sweet, nutty flavour. Distinctive, thick, olive green-brown skin. The flesh is cream tinged with green. (Dessert)Pollinators:Ballerina® Bolero, Ballerina® Polka, Ballerina® Waltz, Braeburn, Discovery, and Liberty.
  • Freyberg
  • Hetlina – green, blushed red skin. The flesh is crisp and firm with a high level of anti-oxidantsPollinators:Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Lady in Red – bright red skin. Inside the cream flesh has a lovely combination of sweet and tart flavours.
  • Laxton’s Fortune
  • NZ Queen
  • Pinkie
  • Polka
  • Priscilla –  light yellow skin with a strong red blush. Crisp and juicy flesh with a good flavour. ollinators for Priscilla include other mid flowering varieties such as Royal Gala, Initial, Kidds Orange Red, Peasgood Nonsuch, Monty’s Surprise, Baujade, Dayton, Granny Smith and Freyburg.
  • Red Delicious = Classic, heart shaped, red shiny fruit that is ready to eat around March. The perfumed, sweet and crispy flesh invites you to take one big delicious bite after another. Deciduous.  While delicious for fresh eating straight off the tree ‘Red Delicious’ is a great cooking apple for pies and puddings or try some in a fresh salad.  Pollinators:  Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise, Winter Banana, Telstar & Tentation™ (Delblush*).
  • Rubee Red
  • Sweet and Sour Candy
  • Waltz

April

  • Ballarat – large apples. The fruit are green with a red blush and the cream flesh is lovely and juicy. A great apple for cooking – it stores very well too.
  • Belle de Boskoop – Heritage Apple with large, russeted, yellow fruit blushed red. Very popular for cooking as it has a great tangy flavour but also can be eaten fresh. Considered one of the best apples for making sauce.Pollinators:Mother and Sir Prize.
  • Bramley Seedling – The fruit is large, flattish and green, flushed red. Firm light yellow flesh that is full of flavour.  An excellent cooking applePollinators:Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Fuji – creamy white flesh is firm, juicy and sweet with a satisfying crunch when eaten fresh. Stores exceptionally well.Pollinators:  Fuji, Tydemans Late Orange, Splendour, Sturmer Pippin & Worcester Permain.
  • Golden Delicious – golden and very scrum-delicious. The flesh is crisp and juicy with a sweet honey flavour. Lovely eaten fresh but can be cooked(Eating)  Golden Delicious is a self-fertile variety.  If you are having trouble with pollination try planting the following varieties.  Pollinators: Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise, Winter Banana, Telstar & Tentation™ (Delblush*).
  • Granny Smith – bright green apple with its tangy flavour and crisp white flesh. Bake it, sauce it, slice it, caramelise it, but most of all, simply bite into it. Keeps well.  Granny Smith is a self fertile variety.  If you are having trouble with pollination, try planting the following varieties.  Pollinators:  Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise, Winter Banana, Telstar & Tentation™ (Delblush*).
  • Jazz
  • Liberty –  The skin is red blushed and the flesh crisp and juicy with a good balance between sweet and tart flavours. Very good for fresh eating.Liberty is a self fertile variety so requires no pollinator, however fruiting can be assisted by the planting of pollinators nearby.Pollinators:  Braeburn, Discovery, Egremont Russet as well as any of the Ballerina series.
  • Little Rascal –  rose red fruit in autumn. Medium sized fruit with white crisp juicy flesh. Sweet flavour.
  • Pacific Rose – distinctive, clear rose-pink skin. The flesh is firm, crisp and juicy with a rich-sweet taste. A Gala and Splendour crossPollinators:Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Pacific Queen
  • Peasgood Nonsuch – huge, flat, highly coloured fruit with red stripes. Highly esteemed for culinary purposes. The flesh is firm, juicy and tart with the right blend of acid and sweet. When stewed the flesh breaks down to a ‘froth’.  Peasgood Nonsuch is a self fertile variety.  If you are having trouble with pollination, try planting the following varieties.  PollinatorsAdore®ArianeBaujadeBlenheim OrangeBramley’s Seedling Cox’s Orange PippinDayton Divine®Gala Golden Delicious Granny Smith FreybergHetlina Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Sir Prize – Large yellow Golden Delicious-type apple with blush. Fruit is very juicy with crisp, tender flesh and is an excellent keeperPollinators include Belle de Boskoop and Mother.
  • Teacher’s Pet – dark red fruit in autumn. Medium sized fruit with white crisp juicy flesh. Sweet flavour. Autumn harvest when the fruit has reached full colour and size. The pips should rattle and are black in colour. Also can be cooked; are easy to core, slow to oxidise, holds skin colour and has good flesh texture.
  • Tropicana – Deep red, waxy skin and white flesh that is tinted red. High levels of health-promoting anthocyanins are present in the fruit. The flavour and aroma of this apple is distinctively ‘tropical’ hence the name. Matures about late March..

May

  • Baujade – A French bred Granny Smith-type without the thick skin of a Granny Smith apple. Ripening late season. Medium size, sweet and aromatic.Pollinators: Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Kentish Fillbasket – arge English cooking apple. The skin is pale green and streaked with red. A vigorous disease resistant variety that has been around since 1820. Makes delicious Apple Sauce.
  • Kidd’s Orange – weet aromatic flavour and a firm texture. The skin is orange yellow strongly flushed and striped with red
  • Merton Russet – russet brown, rough textured skin. The flesh is firm and crisp with a sweet flavour.
  • Monty’s Surprise – large, (up to 400grams) crisp and juicy fruit that are full of flavour. The skin of this apple has a high flavanoid count aiding human disease prevention. It’s got to be good for you! Ripe in April. Pollinators – Granny Smith or Fuji Pollinators include mid flowering varieties such as:Adore®, Gala, Peasgood Nonsuch, Ariane, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady®, Baujade, Granny Smith, Priscilla, Blenheim Orange, Hetlina, Red Delicious, Bramley’s Seedling, Initial, Royal Gala, Dayton, Kidd’s Orange Red, Divine®, Laxton’s Fortune, Freyberg, Monty’s Surprise & Winter Banana.
  • Mother
  • Pink Lady – ‘Lady in Red’ tree bears fruit that is pink-red blushed with pure white flesh and is capable of producing fruit that meets the high quality standards of PINK LADY® apples, one of the world’s most popular varieties. Fruit from this ‘Lady in Red’ tree has a flavour balanced between tartness and sweetness, with a crisp texture and sensational aroma.Pollinators include Granny Smith, Fuji and Gala.
  • Splendour – large carmine red apple with creamy, very crisp flesh. Sweet tasting and very low acid.Pollinators: Fuji, Tydemans Late Orange, Sturmer Pippin & Worcester Permain.
  • Sturmer Pippin – green skin flushed yellow bronze. Good flavour with juicy, crisp yellow-green flesh. Leave on the tree as late as possible before picking – ripe around the end of autumn. Excellent for cider and cooking.  Pollinators:  Fuji, Splendour, Tydemans Late Orange, and Worcester Pearmain.
  • Tydeman’s Late Orange
  • Winter Banana – Winter Banana is a highly attractive heritage variety. The fruit is bright yellow and blushes with a rosy pink. It has crisp, tangy, and juicy flesh that is highly aromatic with a mild, banana-like flavour. This apple cooks well and is great for juicing and eating as well. Fruit ripens late in the season. Partially self fertile.  Pollinators Adore®Ariane Baujade Blenheim Orange Bramley’s Seedling Cox’s Orange Pippin  Dayton  Divine®Freyberg Gala Golden Delicious Granny Smith Hetlina Initial* Kidd’s Orange Red Laxton’s Fortune Monty’s Surprise Peasgood NonsuchPink Lady®PriscillaRed Delicious Royal GalaTelstar Tentation™ (Delblush*)
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