Description
Reinette apple tree from Brive
The Reinette de Brive, also known as “Pomme de l’Estre”, “Sainte-Germaine” or “Lettre”, is an old French variety, originating in Limousin and Auvergne in the eighteenth century. Hardy and vigorous, it is especially known for its late flowering and its ability to avoid spring frosts. It is one of the best traditional storage apples.
Characteristics of Reinette de Brive
The fruits are medium to large in size, slightly conical or flattened, with a yellow-green skin washed with carmine, sometimes ribbed. Its flesh is fine, firm, juicy, very fragrant and with a slightly acidic sweet flavor. When fully ripe, the texture remains crunchy and its flavour intensifies, making it ideal both as table fruit and cooking.
It is renowned for its exceptional storage capacity: harvested late, it can be kept in a fruit tree or cellar until May or June without altering taste or texture.
Cultivation and maintenance
The Reinette de Brive apple tree is of medium vigour, forming a balanced and open silhouette. It prefers a deep, cool to slightly calcareous filtering soil and appreciates exposure to full sun or partial shade. It is well adapted to temperate climates with cold winters.
Its late flowering limits the risk of damage related to spring frosts. It shows good natural tolerance to common apple diseases, especially scab. To maintain a regular and quality production, an annual fruiting pruning at the end of winter is recommended.
This variety is not self-fertile: it is necessary to plant a compatible pollinator variety nearby.
Culinary Uses
- To eat : fragrant flavour, fine and dense flesh.
- Baking : excellent performance in pies, compote, baked apples.
- Juice and cider : good base for fragrant blends.
Advantages
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Very long shelf life | until May or even June without loss of quality |
| Rustic | Late flowering, good cold hardiness |
| Taste | sweet, fragrant, not very acidic |
| Natural | Not very susceptible to scab and other diseases |
For optimal pollination, combine it with the Reine des Reinettes apple tree.
Our advice in video
Our other Apple trees




