How does the old German commercial apple 'Altländer Pannkuchenapfel' taste? We will introduce you to the apple and explain all the special features of cultivation and care.
The 'Altländer pancake apple' is wonderfully suited as a commercial apple: Large, can be stored very well, has a good taste and can also be used in various ways. However, it is unclear where the appetizing name came from. It may be due to the somewhat flat shape of the fruit. In addition, the fact that the apple can be excellently processed into a delicious mush, which can then be eaten with pancakes, could give it its name.
In 2006, the 'Altländer pancake apple' was voted the orchard of the year in Northern Germany, because it is reliable and he althy even in extensive cultivation.
Altländer Pancake Apple: Profile
| Synonyms | 'Altenländer winter apple', 'Real pancake apple', 'Thurgauer Kent' |
| Fruit | medium to large; greenish-yellow base color and light red, streaked top color |
| Flavour | mild, spicy, more sour than sweet; sweeter with longer storage |
| Yield | high; but tends to alternation |
| Harvest time | Late October to late November |
| Maturity for pleasure | March to May |
| Shelf Life | very good; Can be stored for up to 8 months |
| Growth | strong at first, later medium strong |
| Climate | not suitable for very dry locations |
| Diseases and Pests | low susceptibility to apple scab and powdery mildew |
Origin and History
The 'Altländer pancake apple' was discovered in 1840 as a chance seedling near Hamburg. Its success story speaks for itself: for a long time it was an important commercial variety, occupying large areas on the Lower Elbe and being widespread and recommended throughout Northwest Germany, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. BecauseWith its "unappealing fruit shape" and the "streaky red colouring", the old variety no longer fitted into the chic retail range. The storability was also no longer relevant, because fresh produce could always be imported from more southern countries.
Meanwhile, the 'Altländer pancake apple' is one of the endangered native crops and is only kept alive by highly specialized fruit tree nurseries, enthusiasts and hobby gardeners.
With the trend towards sustainable and more regional agriculture, the hardy North German 'Real Pflannkuchenapfel' might soon enjoy a well-deserved resurgence.
Tip: Synonyms for the variety name are the following locally occurring names: 'Altenländer Winterapfel', 'Real Pancake Apple', 'Thurgauer Kent' (Switzerland).
Flavor and Properties of Pancake Apple
The 'Altländer pancake apple' produces medium-sized to large fruits that are spherical and slightly angular in appearance. The skin is firm, fine, smooth and has a dull sheen. The basic color is greenish-yellow and a maximum of half of the fruit is decorated with the light red, streaked overcolor. The meat is fine and firm, but eventually becomes tender after long storage. Young apples clearly taste more sour than sweet, but the relationship shifts more and more towards sweetness with storage. Overall, the taste is mild and has an appealing spiciness. The apple gives off almost no scent.
Special features of cultivation and care
The 'Altländer Pancake Apple' thrives in any sufficiently moist and nutrient-rich garden soil. Neither somewhat sandy nor somewhat clayey soils can slow down its growth. The tree, which originates from North Germany, also endures cool locations without complaint, only very dry locations are not suitable for it. If your garden soil is rather nutrient-poor, you can give the young sapling a good start when planting with a primarily organic complete fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer.
The growth is strong in the youth phase, later still medium strong. When young, the branches grow steeply upright and should be shaped by tying. The crown becomes spherical and the entire tree is medium-sized. Regular pruning is urgently needed with the 'Altländer Pflannkuchenapfel' in order to always ensure young and high-quality fruit wood. Otherwise he tends to, only extremely many but for thatto bear inferior fruit on old fruiting wood.
The upbringing succeeds as a standard, half-stem, quarter-stem or bush tree if suitable rootstocks are used in each case. Especially as a standard or half-stem, it is absolutely necessary that strong, forest-hard rootstocks such as seedlings of the varieties 'Bittenfelder' or 'Grahams Jubilee Apple' or even the medium-growing rootstock M4 are used.
The flowers appear mid-late to late in spring and are rather insensitive. Good pollinators for the 'Altländer pancake apple' are 'Goldparmäne' and 'James Grieve'. Unfortunately, the 'Altländer pancake apple' tends to alternate in some locations, so it alternately bears a lot of fruit and then almost no fruit at all. This behavior can be counteracted with a professional apple tree pruning.
There is a low susceptibility to scab and mildew, which makes regular pruning even more important: In a loose crown, the foliage dries off better, especially in the morning hours, and fungal infection is much less likely.
Tip: If you want to prevent fungal diseases on apple trees, plant them in areas that are more open to the wind. The 'Altländer pancake apple' in particular tolerates slightly stronger winds and cool temperatures well and is therefore well protected from apple scab and mildew. In areas that are too harsh, however, the 'pancake apple' can only thrive on a frost-resistant substrate.
Altländer pancake apple: harvest time and use
The 'Altländer pancake apple' can be harvested from the end of October to the end of November when it is ripe. However, the ripeness for consumption only sets in after a longer period of storage, namely between March and May. Apples that have been harvested early can be stored for 8 months at 0 °C and with sufficient humidity.
The 'real pancake apple' is an economic apple, it is only rarely used for direct consumption. The processing into juice, compote and mush is highly recommended and the firm pulp is also perfect for baking.
The Altländer pancake apple as a rather fast-growing tree is not the right one for every home garden. A weaker growing variety that is well armed against many diseases is 'Reglindis'. It is perfect for processing in the kitchen or as a cider, but can also serve as a tasty table fruit in a short time window.