When purchasing an apple tree, there are not only different tree shapes to choose from, such as bush, half-stem and standard. Of the thousands of varieties worldwide, quite a few are also widespread in Germany for crop cultivation.

Pay attention to regional characteristics and your own needs

When choosing an apple tree, not only factors such as the color of the fruit or the size of the apple should play a role. Neighbors or the local horticultural association can sometimes also make recommendations for species that have proven particularly successful in the regional climate and in terms of resistance to fungal attack and disease. It is also important whether you want to use the apples straight from the tree as fruit for fresh consumption, or whether they are to be stored or processed into juice or cider after the harvest. With a well thought-out selection of the species, you can harvest fresh apples from the tree at different times and also use them for various types of use.

Consumed fresh from the tree or in the juice bottle

Many apple varieties offer a sour to sweet taste fresh from the tree and are therefore a perfect refreshment in late summer and autumn. These varieties are particularly suitable for extracting juice or for making must:

  • boskoop
  • Danzig Kant
  • Joseph Mush
  • Jacob Lebel

While some species, such as Jakob Fischer, already reach their harvest-ready size and full flavor in early September, other varieties such as Kardinal Bea and the Rote Sternreinette can only be harvested from the middle to the end of October. Late varieties are usually better suited for storage over the fall and winter. However, dried apple rings can also be used to make a tasty and healthy snack for the cold season from varieties that are not particularly storable.

Apple varieties for storage

In contrast to plums, cherries and berries, apples are also suitable for covering your vitamin needs in winter from your own cultivation. For this you need a cool and not too dry cellar room in which the apples can be stored in a frost-free and dark place. Here, apple varieties such as the Red Bellefleur, Luna and the Bell Apple keep well into the spring in well-ventilated crates and under favorable conditions.

tips and tricks

Often only a few apple varieties are available in a desired trunk form in local specialist shops. If you want to propagate an old variety from a garden friend, you can graft scions of this tree onto a rootstock yourself.

Category:

Trees