Calville du Roi apple tree – AB

Description

Calville du Roi apple tree

The Calville du Roi apple tree is an ancestral French variety of exceptional nobility, once grown in the royal gardens of Versailles at the Potager du Roi. This historic apple embodies the excellence of our French apple heritage, passed down from generation to generation for several centuries.

Known for its characteristic ribbed shape typical of Calville-type apples, it is distinguished by its asymmetrical silhouette with five main ribs that draw a bumpy relief around the eye. This unique morphological peculiarity makes each fruit a true natural work of art.

Characteristics of the Calville du Roi

The fruits are medium to large in size, with a slightly flattened spherical shape. The smooth and waxy epidermis has a magnificent golden lemon yellow color, often nuanced with tawny or pink hues on the side exposed to the sun. The peduncle is surrounded by a slight russeting that adds to the rustic charm of this variety.

The white to cream flesh, sometimes veined with green in the centre, offers a fine and crunchy texture of remarkable taste quality. It reveals a perfect balance of sweet sweetness and refreshing acidity, enhanced by subtle lemony aromas and characteristic spicy notes that evoke the scents of yesteryear.

Trees and culture

The tree has a fairly strong vigour with a compact and well-branched habit, facilitating rapid fruiting. Its late flowering in May effectively protects it from late spring frosts, guaranteeing regular fruiting.

This variety adapts perfectly to forms that are trellised against a wall or in espalier, as well as small to medium-sized free-forming. Productivity is generous with moderate alternation, allowing satisfactory harvests each year.

Pollination and associations

For optimal fruiting, combine your Calville du Roi with the Reine des Reinettes apple tree, an excellent pollinator for this variety. You can also pair it with Golden Delicious Apple or Calville White Winter Apple to create a harmonious orchard of old varieties.

Growing and care tips

The King’s Calville appreciates moist and cool soils but adapts to most growing conditions. Plant it in a sunny to semi-shaded location, sheltered from cold winter winds to prevent premature fruit drop.

Pruning is carried out in winter, favouring gentle pruning that respects the natural shape of the tree. Regular watering in the first year facilitates rooting, then the tree becomes autonomous.

Use and tasting

This excellent knife apple is best enjoyed from December to March, when it reveals all the complexity of its aromas. It also excels in traditional pastry, bringing its lemony notes to pies and compotes.

Its remarkable 5-month shelf life makes it a precious fruit to get through the winter with authentic flavors. Some wine lovers detect particularly marked nuances when it is tasted during the end of year celebrations.

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