Many apple lovers only know the Topaz apple from the supermarket. But did you know that for once this "supermarket variety" is not only delicious, but also easy to grow? We introduce you to all the relevant characteristics of the versatile variety.
The 'Topaz' apple variety (Malus domestica 'Topaz') is a relatively new variety that is suitable for professional commercial cultivation, extensive cultivation on meadow orchards and for hobby cultivation in your own garden - under certain circumstances even in the bucket - is suitable. As a variety that is less susceptible to disease, tasty and can be stored for a long time, the 'Topaz' apple variety is a real insider tip for everyone who wants an uncomplicated apple tree that is more fun than work.
Apple Topaz: Profile
| Fruit | medium; dark red flamed and striped top color |
| Flavour | aromatic, finely acidic, balanced sweet and sour |
| Yield | high; tends to alternate |
| Harvest time | Late October to early November |
| Maturity for pleasure | from the end of November |
| Shelf Life | good; Can be stored until March |
| Growth | medium strong; erect to broad |
| Climate | not suitable for rough, winter cold and damp locations |
| Diseases and Pests | Resistant to scab, mildly susceptible to powdery mildew, moderately to highly susceptible to fruit tree spider mite, aphid and dust mite |
Origin and History of the Topaz Apple
The 'Topaz' apple variety was created from a deliberate crossing of the 'Rubin' and 'Vanda' varieties at the Institute for Experimental Botany in Prague (Czech Republic). In 1994, the institute found the cross to be valuable and as early as 1998 there was official plant variety protection in the EU. The 'Topaz' variety is therefore not considered to be a social commons and may not be propagated for commercial reasons without a corresponding fee being paid. This variety is also allowednot used for commercial breeding without obtaining permission from the variety owner.
Topaz apple variety: taste and properties
The fruit of the Topaz apple is medium-sized, flat and medium to stalked. The overcolor occupies 40 to 70% of the shell and is flamed dark red and striped. The skin is thick and can be a little annoying when eating the apple. As the fruit matures, the skin becomes greasy and the initially firm, yellow and juicy flesh becomes medium firm and sweeter. The taste of the Topaz apple is very aromatic and slightly acidic with a well-balanced sugar-acid ratio. The stalk of the fruit is short to medium-long, a typical identifying feature of the variety are the so-called "flesh pearls" in the calyx, i.e. small, round growths of the fruit flesh.
Special features of cultivation & care of Malus 'Topaz'
The 'Topaz' apple tree grows medium strong and upright to wide. At the ends of the shoots there are often really tuft-like branches, which means that the crown quickly becomes very dense and should definitely be thinned out regularly. Like all varieties, both the growth vigor and the shape are strongly influenced by the rootstock used on which the Topaz apple was grafted. A topaz apple tree with a slow-growing rootstock such as M27 can be cultivated in a large tub because it grows slowly. The same variety on a medium vigorous rootstock as M7 is perfectly suited to cultivation as a medium sized tree. Both half and standard trees can grow here and are relatively easy to care for due to the somewhat slowed-down growth. Since the variety is also suitable for extensive cultivation on meadow orchards, grafting on strong-growing rootstocks such as A2 or seedling rootstocks are also possible. Topaz apples grafted on such rootstocks are, without exception, standard trees. These grow very large and are therefore difficult to cut regularly.
The topaz apple tree, which tends to bloom very plentifully, starts flowering early to mid-early. Thus, for example, 'Rewena', 'James Grieve', 'Retina', 'Boskoop', 'Prinz Albrecht' and the 'Weiße Klarapfel' come into question as pollinator varieties. However, due to its early flowering, the Topaz apple tree is susceptible to blossom frost during late spring frosts. Wood frost can also be a problem with this variety, which is why harsh, winter-cold and damp locations are not for this apple. The winter cold is intensifiedwet and heavy soil that warms up slowly - accordingly, a permeable, humus-rich and lighter soil is better suited for the topaz apple tree.
The apple variety is resistant to scab, which means that one of the most important apple tree diseases is not a problem for it. It is only slightly susceptible to powdery mildew, but medium to severely susceptible to the fruit tree spider mite and the apple aphid. In addition, apples of the 'Topaz' variety tend to have pits, i.e. brown spots in the flesh. However, this can be prevented with regular pruning.
The yield of the Topaz apple tree is high and tends to alternate, especially if it is grown in locations that are too cold or if it is pruned radically. Pre-harvest fruit drop is almost never seen on this apple tree.
Topaz Apple: Harvest & Use
The harvest time for the Topaz apple is between the end of October and the beginning of November - now it is ready to be picked and is in the best condition for storage. The ripeness for consumption on the tree is reached from the end of November, but it is slower in cool storage: the Topaz apple can be cooled to just over 0 °C until March. As it ripens, the fruit softens and the skin becomes greasy.
Because of its very good taste, the Topaz apple is ideal for direct consumption. However, processing and preservation in any form is also possible, mainly because the harvest is usually very rich.
By the way: What about an allergy to apples with the 'Topaz' variety? The apple variety 'Topaz' is considered allergy-friendly due to a relatively low concentration of the apple allergen "Mal d1". However, apple allergies are so complex that we advise allergy sufferers to always start with careful samples of each variety.
Are you looking for a mass carrier for the production of juice, puree or even apple cider to complement the tasty Topaz apple? Then the naturally he althy commercial variety 'Josef Musch' might be of interest to you.