Autumn apple varieties include Prima, Gala, Priscilla, Spartan, Elstar, Jonagold, but in addition to these, there are many other varieties that ripen during this period of the year.
PRIMA
High-yielding variety developed by crossing Malus floribunda 821 with a cross of Rome Beauty in the USA. The first collection was introduced into production in 1970. Prima is the first commercially significant apple variety with the Vf gene for scab resistance. It is moderately resistant to powdery mildew and bacterial canker. The tree is vigorous. It ripens approximately from August 15 to 30. It blooms moderately late. Good pollinators for Prima are Abas, Jerseymac, and Cripps Pink varieties. It has good and early fruitfulness. The fruit is medium flat-conical and medium-sized. Mild ribs are visible at the calyx end. The skin of the fruit is light red and covers 60 to 80% of the fruit surface, with a base color of greenish-yellow. The flesh is attractive pale green, crisp, juicy, slightly tart, and aromatic. Given its resistance to scab and powdery mildew and its good pollination compatibility, it is suitable for organic production methods. It can be stored for up to two months in cold storage.
GALA
The diploid variety originating from New Zealand, created by crossing Kidd’s Orange Red with Golden Delicious. It has been in production since 1965. It represents a blend of traditional and modern apple varieties. Kidd’s Orange Red, a descendant of Cox’s Orange Pippin, an old-fashioned English favorite, contributes to its heritage. The tree is moderately vigorous and susceptible to scab, powdery mildew, and bacterial canker. It ripens from September 5 to 20. It blooms moderately late and bears fruit early and abundantly. Good pollinators for this variety include Golden Delicious, Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, and Fuji. It’s important to note that red mutants of this variety (Galaxy, Royal Gala, Regal Gala, Imperial Gala) bloom at the same time but do not cross-pollinate each other. The fruit has an elongated conical shape and can range from small to medium in size. The base color of the fruit skin is yellow, transitioning to a secondary orange-red on the sun-exposed side, covering up to 50% of the surface. The flesh is creamy-colored, fine-grained, crisp, sweet, and juicy with excellent texture and high quality preferred by discerning connoisseurs. Due to its size, thin skin, and mild flavor, it’s an ideal choice for children. It stores well and is not sensitive to bitter pit and scald. After harvest, it can be stored until November, and in controlled atmosphere (CA), it can last from 4 to 9 months.
PRISCILLA
The variety originated in the USA through the crossbreeding of Starking Delicious × PRI 610-2 in 1962. The tree grows moderately vigorous. It is resistant to scab and quite tolerant to bacterial canker and powdery mildew. It blooms moderately early. Good pollinators for this variety are Prima, Cripps Pink, and Cripps Red. It ripens from September 5 to 20. It is a very productive variety. The tree is of medium vigor. The fruits are medium to large, flattened with a long stem in a wide, shallow depression. The skin has a secondary dark purple color covering 90 to 100% of the fruit. The flesh is creamy in color, crisp, juicy, and sweet. After harvest, it can be stored for 2 to 3 months.
SPARTAN
The variety originated in Canada in 1920 through the crossbreeding of McIntosh × Pippin Newtown varieties. It is a small, sweet apple in the style of “McIntosh”. It ripens from September 5 to 20. It blooms moderately late and is very productive. The tree is of medium vigor. It produces large, round fruits that are yellow-green in base color, transitioning later to a secondary light crimson color. The flesh is completely white, refreshing, and juicy. It is resistant to scab and fairly resistant to powdery mildew. After harvest, it can be stored for up to 3 months.
ELSTAR
The Elstar is another successful variety whose one parent is Golden Delicious. It was developed in the Netherlands in the 1950s. For many offspring of Golden Delicious, the other parent provides the necessary balance to its sweet taste. In the case of Elstar, the other parent is Ingrid Marie, a Danish variety. It was introduced into production in 1975. The tree is vigorous with good branch distribution. It blooms moderately late. Good pollinators include Jonathan, Gloster, Idared, Braeburn, Gala, and Golden Delicious. Elstar ripens from September 15 to 30. It is very productive and early-bearing, yielding medium to large fruits weighing 160 to 180 g. The fruits are round and regular-shaped with a short stem. The skin is a beautiful light crimson color on the sun-exposed side, while the base color is yellow-green. The flesh is firm, juicy, crisp, sweet-tart, and very pleasant in taste. It can be stored for up to 3 months after harvest.
JONAGOLD
Jonagold is a triploid variety created by crossing Golden Delicious with Jonathan in the USA in 1943. It is characterized by vigorous tree growth and is recommended for cultivation in cooler climates. Introduced into production in 1968, it has since become very popular in Europe. Jonagold is sensitive to scab, powdery mildew, and bacterial canker. The tree is very vigorous, so it is recommended to be grown on dwarfing rootstocks such as M 9 and M 27. It blooms moderately late. Good pollinators include Granny Smith, Idared, Gloster, Elstar, Delicious, J. Grieve, and Braeburn. It is incompatible with Golden Delicious. Being triploid, Jonagold requires at least two good pollinators that bloom simultaneously. On the other hand, Jonagold itself is a poor pollinator due to its low pollen viability. Red mutants of this variety (Jonagored, Rubinstar, Crowngold, New Jonagold) bloom at the same time but do not cross-pollinate each other. Jonagold bears fruit early and abundantly. It ripens from September 15 to 30. The fruits are elongated-conical in shape, large to very large, weighing 180 to 250 g. The skin is thin, with a base color of greenish-yellow that transitions to a secondary light crimson covering 40 to 50% of the fruit’s surface when exposed to the sun. The fruits are coated with a waxy layer and have a thin, long stem, staying well on the tree. The flesh is creamy-colored, very juicy, sweet-tart, crisp, and pleasantly aromatic. It is an excellent apple for eating fresh, fruit salads, and baking. It can be stored well after harvest for up to 3.5 months.
