Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’, Red sweet apple tree, Height 80 cm, 5-litre pot

Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’ is a classic apple variety that is instantly recognisable by its glossy, deep-red apples. The variety is particularly popular for its mild, distinctly sweet flavour and relatively low acidity. A good choice for those who prefer a sweet apple to a tart one.

The creamy-white flesh is juicy and firm. Furthermore, the apples can be stored for a long time under suitable, cool storage conditions.

Why choose ‘Red Delicious’?

• Striking dark red apples
• Sweet, mild flavour with low acidity
• Firm and juicy flesh
• A good storage apple
• Suitable as a dessert apple
• Beautiful apple blossom in spring
• A fruit tree that is highly hardy

Contents of this product

• 1 x Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’
- Pot size: 5 litres
• Height on delivery: approx. 80 cm (approximate)

Apple trees are natural products. Their exact height, branching pattern and foliage may therefore vary depending on the season, pruning and current stage of growth.

The distinctive red apple

‘Red Delicious’ is known for its strikingly coloured fruit. The apples are elongated to slightly conical in shape and develop a glossy, deep red to dark red skin as they ripen.

Beneath the skin lies creamy-white flesh with a sweet and mild flavour. The acidity is relatively low, making ‘Red Delicious’ particularly appealing to lovers of sweet apples.

These apples are particularly well suited to eating fresh, straight from the tree.

Flowering and harvesting

In spring, the distinctive apple blossom appears. The apples develop from successfully pollinated flowers during the growing season.

‘Red Delicious’ is a relatively late-harvesting apple variety. The fruit is usually picked in the autumn. The exact time of harvest varies from year to year and depends, amongst other things, on temperature, hours of sunshine and location.

An additional advantage is their good shelf life. Under cool and suitable conditions, the apples can be stored for a long time after harvest.

Pollination

To ensure good fruit set, cross-pollination with another suitable apple variety is recommended. Choose an apple tree whose flowering period overlaps sufficiently with that of ‘Red Delicious’.

If there are already other apple trees in the immediate vicinity, these can also provide cross-pollination, provided that their flowering periods coincide.

By combining different varieties of apple, you can also spread out the harvest period and enjoy a range of flavours from your own garden.

Location and care

It is best to plant the apple tree in a sunny spot. Plenty of sun is beneficial for the development, ripening and colouring of the apples. A spot in light partial shade is possible, but a sunny position is preferable for good fruit ripening.

Use a nutritious, well-drained soil that can retain sufficient moisture without remaining waterlogged for long periods.

Be sure to water regularly, particularly during the first year after planting. Extra water may also be needed during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather.

Prune

An apple tree can be pruned annually to develop an open and well-balanced crown. This allows light to penetrate the crown more effectively and makes the tree easier to manage.

Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, amongst other things, and prevent the crown from becoming too dense. Strong shoots growing straight upwards can be removed or pruned back where necessary.

The final size of the tree is partly determined by the rootstock used, the growing conditions and the way in which the tree is pruned.

Winter care

Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’ is highly hardy and can overwinter outdoors in the Dutch climate.

The apple tree is deciduous. In autumn, the tree sheds its leaves and stands bare throughout the winter. This is part of its natural winter dormancy. In spring, leaves and flower buds reappear.

For lovers of sweet apples

‘Red Delicious’ is a particularly interesting apple tree for those who enjoy sweet apples with low acidity. The combination of spring blossom, dark red fruit and good keeping quality makes it a classic variety for the fruit garden.

Combine ‘Red Delicious’ with other apple varieties that have overlapping flowering periods to encourage cross-pollination and to enjoy a variety of flavours and harvest times in the garden.