The relatively new apple variety 'Saturn' is resistant to scab due to targeted breeding and only has moderate growth. It also brings out a very good taste under the bright red skin and is recommended for professional growers and hobby fruit growers.
The English apple 'Saturn' deserves your attention if you are looking for a naturally he althy apple variety with a good taste. The growth is rather moderate, so that the cutting effort can usually be managed. Read everything you need to know about the 'Saturn' apple variety in detail below.
Saturn Apple: Profile
| Synonyms | Saturn Noue 8903 |
| Fruit | Medium-sized, yellow-red marbled |
| Flavour | Crisp, juicy, sweet |
| Yield | Tall, tends to sway |
| Harvest time | From mid-September |
| Maturity for pleasure | From the end of September |
| Shelf Life | Until December |
| Growth | Weak to medium strong |
| Climate | Warm, Protected |
| Diseases and Pests | Resistant to scab, only slightly susceptible to powdery mildew, mostly he althy |
Origin and History
'Saturn' is a purpose bred strain from the East Malling Research Station in the UK. 'Saturn' was selected for the first time in 1977 from the result of crossing a numbered variety, i.e. a variety used exclusively for breeding, and a special variety of 'Red Delicious'. Plant variety protection was applied for in 1994, so that 'Saturn' cannot be freely propagated commercially. It was introduced by the Artus Group in Germany and has enjoyed increasing popularity ever since, even if changes in the fruit range are naturally very slow.
Flavour and characteristics
The 'Saturn' apple is medium to large in size and rather tall. The shape has distinct but flatedges up. The calyx is distinctly ribbed. The medium-long, medium-thick stem emerges from the deep and wide stem pit. The shell is robust: coarse and somewhat hard. When fully ripe, it feels slightly greasy. The basic color is green-yellow, but at least 30%, often almost the entire surface, is overlaid by the light to dark red marbled top color. The skin points are so fine that they are almost invisible.
The tough skin protects the yellowish-white flesh. The fine-celled texture and the firm cells ensure a crisp bite. Afterwards, the sweet, low-acid and perfumed taste of the juicy apple is a pleasure.
Tip: 'Saturn' was examined for valuable ingredients, but the result was rather sobering: Apart from good taste, the variety has relatively little to offer - for example, a right low vitamin C content. On the other hand, 'Saturn' is obviously one of the apple varieties that are also well tolerated by diabetics.
Apple variety 'Saturn': Special features in cultivation and care
'Saturn' is of interest to growers because of its good he alth, but on a slow root like 'M9' or the medium vigorous 'M7' the apple will also do well in the home garden. 'Saturn' still has to prove itself on the meadow orchard, because apparently the variety ages easily. That's why a vigorously growing rootstock such as 'Bittenfelder' or 'A2' is the right choice for extensive cultivation.
The preferred location of the 'Saturn' apple tree is influenced by the choice of rootstock, but is at best warm, sheltered from the wind and rich in nutrients. Soil that is too poor is better generously improved with a compost soil such as our Plantura organic compost soil. The nutrient-rich, sustainably produced soil is incorporated when the apple tree is planted, although 40 to 70 liters can be used. Good mixing with the existing soil is important.
The growth of the 'Saturn' apple tree is weak to medium. It tends to age on poor locations and weak-growing rootstock: too little young fruit wood is produced, which reduces the quality and size of the fruit - regular and not too careful pruning in winter counteracts this.
The yields are set for usually early and can be tall - unfortunately the tree tends to alternate, i.e. annual fluctuating yields. The reason lies in the all too rich flowering that the tree in the "mast year"starts. Professional growers therefore thin the fruit load down to one fruit per infructescence every year around June. This practice ensures that the tree bears fruit more regularly and that the remaining fruit is better cared for - and can also be tried out in the home garden.
Because 'Saturn' flowers mid-early to late, the flower is hardly affected by late frosts. Like all apple trees, the 'Saturn' variety is of course a feast for bees and other insects. Good pollinators to place nearby are 'Florina', 'Reglindis', 'Topaz' and 'Discovery', as well as 'Priam', 'Teser' and 'Goldstar'. 'Saturn' is also a useful pollen donor itself.
Because of targeted breeding, the 'Saturn' apple tree is resistant to apple scab. It is only slightly susceptible to powdery mildew, which means that two important apple tree diseases are unlikely.
Harvesting and Using the Saturn Apples
From mid-September the 'Saturn' apple will be harvested for storage. He althy ‘Saturn’ apples stored early can keep and taste good until November, at most until December. From the end of September, the state of readiness for consumption is already reached - depending on the weather, a little earlier or later.
In storage, the flesh of the apples can turn brown, whereby the flesh loses its freshness and taste and turns light brown. This is particularly caused by storage that is too cold, too warm or too late in combination with a calcium deficiency. Such a lack of calcium is prevented with regular pruning to promote leaf growth, thinning and, if necessary, calcium fertilization.
If the harvest went well, the 'Saturn' apple is a very good dessert apple. Other uses are certainly also possible - but almost a waste of the very crunchy, juicy apple.
The apple variety 'Reglindis' has already been mentioned above. Like 'Saturn' apple trees, it is very he althy due to the complex breeding work, but is harvested earlier and does not last as long. Their use is also different: 'Reglindis' is perfect for baking and cooking. Thus, the variety is a good addition to the 'Saturn' presented here - especially since the varieties can pollinate each other.