Description
Calville White Winter Apple Tree
The Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple tree is an exceptional old variety, cultivated since the sixteenth century and recognized as one of the best luxury apples. This historic variety, already present in the orchard of Pierre Le Lectier in 1628, continues to seduce apple lovers with its incomparable finesse and delicate flavor.
This exceptional apple is distinguished by its characteristic ribbed shape and remarkable taste quality. Its name comes from the village of Calleville in the Eure, testifying to its Norman origins. It is also known as the “Blanche de Zurich”, “Bonnet carré” or “Admirable blanche”.
Characteristics of the fruit
The Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple has exceptional visual and taste characteristics that make it a variety of choice for connoisseurs.
Appearance of the fruit
- Shape: Large, irregularly shaped, slightly flattened and ribbed apple around the eye
- Color: Pale yellow skin, sometimes slightly pinkish with reddish spots in the sun
- Caliber: Large size, imposing fruit
- Characteristic shape: In a “bishop’s cap” with a bumpy crown
Taste qualities
The flesh of this exceptional apple is white to yellowish, fine and tender, offering a remarkable juicy texture. Its sweet and delicately fragrant taste reveals subtle notes of banana, creating a unique taste experience. This apple contains as much vitamin C as an orange, adding to its nutritional qualities.
Calville Blanc d’Hiver excels both in table fruit and in culinary preparation, particularly appreciated for compotes and fine pastries.
Tree Features
The Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple tree is a tree of strong vigour with a spreading habit, easily reaching 4 meters in height and wingspan. Its large and long branches give it an imposing and well-structured silhouette.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Vigor | Strong vigour, vigorous tree |
| Port | Spread, compact |
| Flowering | Late (April), decorative pinkish-white flowers |
| Productivity | Highly productive and consistent |
| Fruit | Fast |
Pollination
For optimal pollination, it is recommended to plant other varieties of apple trees nearby. The best pollinator varieties include the Cox Orange Apple Tree, the Golden Delicious Apple Tree, the Melrose Apple Tree , and the Queen of the Reinettes Apple Tree.
Harvest period and storage
The harvest takes place in October, but the fruits require an additional ripening period. The optimal consumption is from December to March, when the apple reveals all its taste qualities.
This variety keeps remarkably well, for up to 5 months in good conditions. However, its flavor may slightly diminish at the end of storage, so it is recommended to consume it in the first months of storage.
Cultivation and maintenance
The Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple tree prefers a location sheltered from the wind to avoid premature fruit drop. This variety has good resistance to scab, but can be susceptible to woolly aphids.
Planting Tips
- Choose a sunny and wind-protected location
- Favor well-drained and fertile soil
- Plant preferably in autumn or early spring
- Respect a distance of 4 to 6 meters between trees
Care
To maintain the health of your apple tree, take a preventive approach with regular contributions of compost or organic fertilizer. Training pruning in the first few years will promote a good structure of the tree.
Disease resistance
The Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple tree has a good resistance to diseases, including good resistance to scab. This natural hardiness makes it a variety suitable for amateur gardens wishing to limit treatments.
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