Top 10 Apple Varieties You Should Know

Growing organic apple trees

1. Choose the right spot: Pick a sunny site with well-drained soil for your trees. Make sure there is enough room for the tree to grow. For more on planting, see our guide on when to plant a fruit tree.
2. Soil preparation: Improve the soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting. This will enrich it and supply the nutrients your trees need.
3. Planting: Plant your apple trees in autumn or early spring. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and set the tree so that the graft union stays above soil level. See our advice on how to plant a fruit tree.
4. Watering: Water young trees regularly so they establish well. Water less often once the tree is well established.
5. Mulching: Spread a layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture, keep weeds down and improve soil structure.
6. Pruning: Prune in winter to encourage an open, airy framework. Remove dead, diseased or crossing branches to improve air circulation and let light in. See our guide to pruning fruit trees.
7. Organic care: Use natural treatments such as nettle tea or black soap against pests and diseases. Favour biological control. For more on the benefits of organic farming, visit our dedicated page.
8. Harvest: Pick apples when they are fully ripe, usually in late summer or early autumn. Handle the fruit carefully to avoid bruising and store it in a cool, dry place.

Apple varieties and their uses in the kitchen

Reine des Reinettes

With its slightly orange colour, firm texture and tangy flavour, Reine des Reinettes is ideal for tarts and compotes. It also works in savoury dishes, such as roast pork with apples.

Golden Delicious

Naturally sweet, Golden Delicious apples are perfect for fruit salads and desserts such as tarte Tatin. Their firm, crisp flesh also makes them ideal for eating fresh.

Granny Smith

Known for their acidity, Granny Smith apples are perfect for recipes that need a sharp note, such as chutneys and sauces. They also add a pleasant crunch to salads.

Gala

Sweet and juicy, Gala apples are ideal for snacks and fruit salads. They are also excellent in quick desserts such as crumbles and muffins.

Fuji

With their high sugar content, crisp texture and orange tints, Fuji apples are perfect for fresh desserts and salads. They can also be used in oven-baked dishes, adding natural sweetness.

For more information on this apple variety from Asia and its uses, see our complete guide to the Fuji apple.

Jonagold

With their perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, Jonagold apples are excellent for tarts and compotes. Their firm texture also makes them perfect for salads and cooked dishes.

Red-fleshed apples

Managing apple tree diseases and pests

• Brown rot: This fungal disease rots fruit and blossom. Solution: remove affected fruit and use organic fungicide treatments.
• Fire blight: Blackens and kills branches. Solution: remove the tree. It may seem drastic, but fire blight is a closely monitored disease (fortunately very rare).
• Aphids: These insects suck sap from the leaves and weaken the tree. Solution: introduce ladybirds and spray soapy water (black soap).
• Codling moth: This pest attacks young fruit and makes it drop. Solution: use pheromone traps and pick up fallen fruit.
• Bacterial canker: This disease causes lesions on bark and branches. Solution: cut out affected parts and apply copper-based treatments.
• Powdery mildew: Causes a white felt on leaves and fruit. Solution: use sulphur sprays.
• Rust: Causes orange spots on the leaves. Solution: remove affected leaves and apply copper-based treatments.

For more on apple tree care, see our guide to pruning fruit trees and our guide to choosing fruit trees.

Apple trees in organic gardens

Apple trees are an excellent choice for your orchard and for environmentally friendly gardening. To grow them well, give them a sunny position and well-drained soil. Use compost to enrich the soil and help the trees grow. Encourage plant diversity and grow companion plants such as lavender and thyme to deter pests. Finally, check regularly for signs of disease and pests, and choose natural treatments such as nettle tea or essential oils.

For more organic gardening advice, read our article on the benefits of organic farming and our guide to planting fruit trees.

Conclusion

In short, knowing the different apple varieties, with their pink spring blossom, and choosing organic apples brings many benefits for your health and the environment. Whether for their delicious taste, their nutritional value or their contribution to an ecological orchard, apple trees are a wise choice. Why not grow these varieties in your garden and enjoy fresh, tasty fruit while supporting sustainable agriculture? To learn more about planting and caring for fruit trees, read our articles on how to choose a fruit tree and how to plant a fruit tree.