How does the apple variety with the unusual name taste? What do you have to consider when growing and caring for the Swiss orange apple? Introducing the Orange Suisse apple
The apple variety 'Swiss orange apple' not only has a melodious name, the taste of this apple is also particularly good. Unlike some other apple varieties, however, the gardener not only needs an almost perfect location to grow this large and extraordinary apple, but also a good eye for apple tree care.
Swiss Orange Apple: Profile
| Synonyms | 'Orange Suisse', 'Pomme Orange Suisse' |
| Fruit | medium to large; green-yellow to yellow base color with orange-red top color |
| Flavour | aromatic, juicy, more sweet than sour |
| Yield | at first regularly, later alternating |
| Harvest time | from the end of September |
| Maturity for pleasure | December to March |
| Shelf Life | very good; Can be stored until March |
| Growth | initially strong, later weak; lots of fruit wood |
| Climate | warm wine-growing climate; not suitable for high altitudes |
| Diseases and Pests | susceptible to fire blight and specks |
Origin and History
The Swiss orange apple (Malus domestica 'Swiss orange apple') was bred in 1935 at the Agroscope Wädenswill research institute in Switzerland. It was created as a cross between the well-known and very popular parent varieties 'Ontario' and 'Cox Orange'. In 1954 it was marketed for the first time after the approval of the variety, the propagation phase and the first production.
Other names for the Swiss orange apple are 'Orange Suisse' and 'Pomme Orange Suisse'.
Characteristics and taste of the Swiss orange apple
The ′Swiss Orange Apple′ apple variety bears fruit with many good qualities and is under cultivationbut somewhat more difficult and demanding than other apple varieties. Of course, the characteristics of the variety are strongly influenced by the rootstock and care - but in general the Swiss orange apple is characterized by the following characteristics:
- Medium early flowering (May).
- Winter apple to enjoy from late autumn to spring.
- Fruit characteristics: The fruit is medium to large in size with a short stalk. It has a smooth, green-yellow to yellow base color and an orange to red top color that appears as streaky marbling. The taste of the Swiss orange apple is strongly influenced by the location, but is usually more sweet than sour and aromatic. The flesh is yellow, medium-firm and very juicy. Yield starts late in seedlings and is regular at first, but later tends to fluctuate ( alternate).
- Storage properties: The Swiss orange apple can be stored very well and remains very tasty for a long time.
- Growth: The growth of the variety is strong (depending on the rootstock) when young, later weak. The Swiss orange apple forms spherical crowns or grows like a bush. The vegetative shoots are rather thin, a lot of fruit wood is formed.
- Tree he alth: The variety is highly susceptible to fire blight, also susceptible to pit (calcium deficiency). Susceptibility to powdery mildew and scab is low. Read more about apple tree diseases in the appropriate special article.
Cultivation & Care of the Swiss Orange Apple
The cultivation of the 'Swiss Orange Apple' apple is rewarded with particularly tasty and storable apples. But on the one hand, cultivation is not possible at every location and on the other hand, this variety is not a sure-fire success, but rather needs to be cultivated annually. Therefore, read all about growing the variety before planting the apple tree.
Location Requirements
Because the Swiss orange apple does not tolerate high altitudes, cultivation is only possible below 500 meters above sea level. possible. The soil should be sufficiently moist, deep and rich in nutrients. Sandy and humus-poor soils are not suitable for this demanding variety. Full sun or light partial shade are optimal for the Swiss orange apple. The site conditions have a strong effect on the taste of this strain and if the conditions are too bad, it will hardly be able to survive. Cultivation is very successful in a warm wine-growing climate.
Pollinator Varieties of the SwissOrange apple
The Swiss orange apple is a diploid variety that can be pollinated by many other varieties and also pollinates other varieties well because it flowers profusely itself. Very suitable pollinating varieties are the parents 'Cox Orange' and 'Ontario' as well as the varieties 'Discovery', 'Freiherr von Berlepsch' and 'James Grieve'.
Apple variety 'Swiss orange apple': Care
Maintenance should be carried out regularly every year. Every spring it is important to fertilize the apple tree with a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as the Plantura organic universal fertilizer or a balanced compost. Young trees need to be pruned thoroughly for training and care, and older trees need an annual pruning to ensure the formation of new fruiting wood, otherwise their growth will become too weak. With an annual pruning of the apple tree in winter, the 'Swiss Orange Apple' apple variety produces particularly high-quality, good-sized and excellent-tasting fruit.
Tip: In order not to provoke the appearance of pit (calcium deficiency), the Swiss orange apple should under no circumstances be planted in too shady places or in places with little air movement. In addition, high doses of magnesium and potassium should be avoided.
Harvest time and use of the Swiss orange apple
Swiss orange apple: Harvest
The ′Swiss Orange Apple′ apple variety can be harvested at the end of September at the earliest. After ripening on the tree or in storage, the fruit can be stored and eaten from December to March at the latest. Storage outside in the "natural camp" only works until December. At 0 °C, darkness and slightly higher humidity - for example in an earth cellar - the Swiss orange apple actually remains very tasty until March.
Usage
The 'Swiss orange apple' is ideal for direct consumption and as a table apple. This also applies after longer storage. When grated, the variety produces a golden-yellow pulp. This all-rounder can also be used for baking, cooking and making cider.
Hint: All apples are pollinated by insects. Honey bees and wild bees but also bumblebees perform this service in the hobby garden free of charge. With a nesting aid for wild bees or a flower meadow like the Plantura bee pasture, you can say thank you and at the same time ensure the pollination of your trees.