The 'Borowinka' apple variety produces large fruits with loose, light-colored flesh. The Russian-born variety was very popular for a long time, especially in Bavaria.
The 'Borowinka' apple has a few other names: 'Borowitzky', 'Charlamowski' and simply 'Augustapfel', but it is also called 'Oldenburger' or 'Duchess of Oldenburg'. Due to the many synonyms, the differentiation from other varieties, such as the 'Privy Councilor Dr. Oldenburg', which is also called 'Oldenburger', is not that easy.
Borowinka Apple: Origin and History
At least everyone agrees on the rough origin of the 'Borowinka' apple: it is said to have been bred in southern Russia as early as the 18th century. From the end of the 19th century, the variety was popular in the foothills of the Alps and especially in Bavaria, but quickly found its way overseas, which is why it is also known in the USA. It is documented that a 'Charlamowsky' apple was planted in Hohenheim near Stuttgart as early as 1804.
Taste and appearance of ‘Borowinka’
The 'Borowinka' apple is a medium-sized to large apple with a flat-round shape. He has weak to medium strong ribs. The base color of the shell is light yellow, the top color is orange or light red washed out in stripes or flames. The skin is slightly frosted and shows typical white skin spots.
The flesh inside is whitish to greenish white and loose, mildly acidic and juicy with a weak aroma. The bite is juicy and crisp. The cores inside the core are dashed white.
The stem of the 'Borowinka' apple is long, thin and protrudes from the deep and wide, often rusted stem cavity.
Cultivation and care of the 'Borowinka' apple: This is important to note
Because of its low demands, the 'Borowinka' apple tree is particularly suitable for extensive cultivation and also for poor orchard locations. It can also exist in cool altitudes or in humid microclimates and on poorer soils. Because it forms a rather small crown, it is suitable for even without regular pruningsuitable for smaller gardens.
However, the variety is short-lived, grows very vigorously in the first few years, enters the fruiting phase early and then quickly forms senile crowns.
The flowers appear early, but due to their above-average frost hardiness there is hardly any danger of freezing to death. 'Borowinka' is a good source of pollen itself and is sure to be pollinated by the varieties 'Antonowka', 'Livländische Borsdorfer' and 'Weiße Astrakhan'.
If the tree is pruned either regularly or not at all, the yield is high and regularly. However, radical cuts after years of neglect can lead to crop failures and irregular yields ( alternance). For well-developed fruit, however, the tree should be pruned annually to prevent the fruit wood from aging. Unpruned and neglected, the robust 'Charlamowski' also does well in meadow orchards, but produces rather small fruits there.
Diseases and pests rarely affect the 'Borowinka', even in unfavorable locations.
Harvesting and using 'Borowinka'
The 'Borowinka' is an apple that is often harvested in late summer and cannot be stored for long, which explains its designation as 'August apple'. Some sources state that in good years it can be picked as early as August, so it is ready for consumption by October at the latest. 'Borowinka' is mainly used for processing because of the large yield, also because the taste is rather sour and the aroma is weak. The 'Charlamowski' can be used to make jelly or mush as early as late summer or early autumn, but the fruit can hardly be stored for more than four weeks. A 'Borowinka' is an asset to any garden, even if it's not the perfect dessert apple for direct consumption. Discover more apple varieties for the garden in our overview article, where extra sweet, extra crunchy, large, easy to care for or beautiful varieties are presented, all characterized by good he alth.