The 'Red Berlepsch' is an old, tasty and proven apple variety. We explain the properties of the apple tree and the fruit of the 'Red Berlepsch' and what you can consider when growing, caring for and harvesting.
The 'Rote Berlepsch' is an apple variety with many qualities and equally high demands. The variety, also known as Hohenzollernapfel, is closely related to the 'Goldrenette Freiherr von Berlepsch' variety, from which it descends. 'Roter Berlepsch' can be cultivated as a standard, half-stem or trellis, but it also requires an almost perfect location and professional care for good yields.
Red Berlepsch: Profile
| Fruit | small to medium sized; red body color |
| Flavour | juicy, sweet and sour |
| Yield | irregular |
| Harvest time | October to December |
| Maturity for pleasure | December to March |
| Shelf Life | good; Apples harvested early can be stored until February |
| Growth | strong at first, later much weaker |
| Climate | mild |
| Diseases and Pests | susceptible to fruit tree canker on too heavy soil |
Origin and history of the apple
The 'Roter Berlepsch' apple variety is a mutant of the 'Freiherr von Berlepsch' variety. This means that a random error in the replication of the genetic material during cell division resulted in a single shoot or branch with special properties, which was then reproduced vegetatively - i.e. asexually, for example via cuttings or grafting. This random genetic change was the increased appearance of the red body color. However, the taste and other properties of the apple did not change. So the 'Red Berlepsch' is a nice chance find!
By the way: The 'Freiherr von Berlepsch' and the 'Kaiser Wilhelm' variety were examined molecular genetically in 2010 and it was found that theydo not differ in any way. The places where the "two" varieties were discovered - Nesselrode and Grevenbroich - are only 50 km apart. It is therefore assumed that the variety first appeared in Grevenbroich in 1830 as an accidental seedling and was unknowingly "discovered" again in 1864 and named again.
Properties and taste of Red Berlepsch
Like its genetic origin, the 'Red Berlepsch' also has small or medium-sized fruits and a fruity aroma in the firm and yellowish-white flesh. The apple tree also grows very strongly at the beginning, but later much weaker. The crowns are well branched, only the medium-late flowering is unfortunately somewhat sensitive to frost. The resulting flower damage often leads to strongly fluctuating yields. In addition, the 'Rote Berlepsch' is susceptible to various diseases in unsuitable locations.
You can read more about the properties of the two Berlepsch apples in the variety article 'Freiherr von Berlepsch'.
Special features of cultivation and care
Like its progenitor, the 'Rote Berlepsch' is a demanding fellow: For good, high-quality yields, a location with a mild climate is a must, and the soil can hardly deviate from the ideal of "moist, deep, permeable, sandy-loamy and nutrient-rich “ differ. Cultivated in poor locations, it is easy to cause blossom and wood frost, fruit drop, irregular yields, reduced growth and increased incidence of diseases.
On the other hand, the 'Rote Berlepsch' is excellent for growing on espaliers because it grows in a very straight line . However, the classic cut in a pyramidal shape or as a spindle is difficult to implement because of the strong growth at the ends of the shoots and requires annual, well-guided cuts.
Suitable pollinating varieties are: 'Disovery', 'Cox Orange', 'Klarapfel', 'James Grieve', 'Jonathan' and the 'Ananas Renette'.
Tip: Not every apple variety has such a high nutrient requirement as the 'Red Berlepsch'. With a mostly organic fertilizer like Plantura Bio Universal Fertilizer, you can satisfy this hungry strain without overstimulating vegetative growth at the expense of fruiting.
Apple variety 'Roter Berlepsch': harvest time and use
As a winter apple, the 'Rote Berlepsch' is ready to harvest from October to December. Fruits that are harvested early and are not fully ripe can be kept refrigerated until February. It should be emphasized with the 'Roter Berlepsch' that hethe taste changed only minimally during storage and that the taste of the variety can still be rated as excellent. If the 'Rote Berlepsch' is stored too warm, it unfortunately tends to wilt very quickly, so it quickly shrivels up. You can find out what the 'Rote Belepsch' can be used for in addition to eating it fresh in the variety article on 'Freiherr von Berlepsch'.
You have fallen in love with the Red Berlepsch and want to start planting straight away? Here we explain how to plant an apple tree in 10 steps.