The most common fruit tree in our country is still the apple tree. It doesn’t have to be monotonous, because he is a master at mastering many flavors. Growers have been devoted to this favorite fruit for many centuries. This is how numerous native apple varieties have emerged. They tolerate our climate well and taste delicious. These German apple varieties are ideal for the home garden and are still available in nurseries.
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summer apples
If you can’t wait to nibble the first fresh apples of the year straight from the tree, you should choose a summer variety. German breeders have created some apple varieties suitable for the home garden. With them you get an apple flavor that cannot be found on store shelves. Because the summer apple only tastes good immediately after harvest. It can hardly be stored and quickly becomes mealy.
Jamba
This is a comparatively young strain that has been on the market for less than a hundred years. The tree grows quickly at first and branches out nicely. However, with a growth height of about 4 m, it remains medium-sized. Jamba prefers mild regions. The fruits are large, have a smooth, green-yellow skin. On the sunny side it turns reddish.
- Flesh: green-white; crisp; very juicy and slightly sour
- Ripeness for picking: from the end of August/beginning of September
- Ripeness for consumption: immediately edible; Can be stored until October at most
Julka
The tree is slow-growing at around 2 m tall and only takes up an area of around 1 m². This apple variety is therefore also suitable for the smallest home garden. It is just as good for trellis training. Julka is resistant to scab and gets along well with powdery mildew. It is considered the earliest ripening German apple variety. It bears small, round fruits that turn dark red when ripe.
- Flesh: firm and juicy; very cute
- Ripeness for picking: from the end of July for approx. 3 weeks
- Ready for consumption: immediately; can be stored for approx. 3 weeks; in camp or on the tree
Red
Piros is one of the apple varieties in the home garden that give us their apples very early. The variety is resilient and also thrives at higher altitudes. The tree is bushy and, with a height of approx. 4 m, can be described as medium-sized. The greenish-yellow skin of the medium-sized fruits is mostly covered in red.
- Flesh: yellowish-white; crisp; with a mild, sweet and sour note
- Ripeness for picking: from the end of July to the end of August
- Ready for consumption: immediately; however, the taste improves after storage
Retina
This German variety only appears in late summer. In return, the harvest is less endangered. Because this breed is insensitive to fire blight, mildew, scab and the red spider. Normal, loose garden soil is enough for the yield to start early and stay at a medium level. The large, elongated fruits are evenly shaped. The smooth, yellow skin is mostly covered with a dark red tint.
- Flesh: yellowish; firm and juicy; pleasantly sweet and sour
- Ripeness for picking: late August to early September
- Ready for consumption: immediately; can only be stored for a very short time
Rheingold
A popular variety that thrives in nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. It was bred near Koblenz and has established itself primarily in the Rhine area. The apple tree reaches up to 4 m in height and 3 m in width and forms a bushy crown. The apples are medium-sized and bright yellow in color. Only the sunny side turns reddish.
- Flesh: firm and juicy; good, sweet and sour aroma
- Ripeness for picking: from August to September
- Ready for consumption: immediately; low shelf life
autumn apples
The autumn apple can usually be stored longer. This is an important criterion, especially for large trees. There are also some good German apple varieties here. Perhaps you already have an unfamiliar autumn apple in your garden. Based on the fruit and taste characteristics, you can subsequently determine whether it is one of the following apple varieties.
Alkmene
Alkmene is a German breed that is supposed to take on dry soils. It prefers light shade and is in good hands in mild wine-growing areas, as its flowers do not tolerate late frosts. Although it is less productive than other apple varieties, it is popularly cultivated for its taste. The apples are medium-sized, with yellow-tinted skin. This turns red on the sunny side.
- Flesh: medium firm; aromatic with slight acidity
- Ripeness for picking: early September to early October
- Ripeness: September to November
Carola
This apple variety is also called Kalco. It was bred in Brandenburg in 1961 and has enjoyed great popularity ever since. The apples are medium-sized and flat-shaped. The thick, smooth and slightly waxy skin is yellowish-green at first. Later it turns the sunlit side red and the other lemon yellow.
- Flesh: yellowish; juicy; sweet and sour, fine aroma
- Ripeness for picking: from mid-September to October
- Ripeness for consumption: from mid-September to the end of November
Gdansk Cantapple
This bushy, medium-tall German variety does well in a sunny to partially shaded spot. It is easily identified by its fruits. Because one of the fruit halves shows a distinctive seam. The apples are medium-sized, with a yellow-green skin that turns red shortly before ripening. Thanks to their shiny layer of fat, they can be stored well.
- Flesh: yellow-white; juicy; mild acidity; Rose apple flavor
- Ripeness for picking: end of September
- Ripeness: September to December
Dithmarscher Paradiesapfel
A strong growing tree with a broad crown. Thrives in normal garden soil in a sunny to partially shaded position. The medium-sized to large fruits are flattened and round, green-white with bright red stripes.
- Flesh: white; juicy and flavorful; moderately sweet
- Ripeness for picking: September to October
- Ripeness: September to December
Holsteiner Cox
For all garden owners who cannot complain about space, this tree is worth considering. It forms a slightly branched but spreading crown. The fruits are large and have a green-yellow skin. On the sunny side it is tinted faintly red.
- Flesh: aromatic with fine acidity; becomes floury if stored for a long time
- Ripeness for picking: mid-September to October
- Ripeness: October to December
winter apples
Thanks to their good storage properties, winter apples provide us with plenty of vitamins even in the cold season. For this we usually have to be patient after the harvest until the taste unfolds its full potential.
Auralia
Also sold under the name Tumanga. The variety is a medium-growing, bushy tree. Nutrient-rich, moist soils are preferred. Yields abundant small to medium-sized fruits with yellow skin that reddens on the sunny side.
- Flesh: yellowish-white; juicy; good sweet-acid ratio
- Ripeness for picking: mid-September
- Ready for consumption: from October up to and including December
Clivia
In a nutrient-rich soil, this German apple variety regularly produces good yields. The fruits are small to medium-sized and have a shiny, green-yellow skin. There is only a hint of red on the sunny side. Net-like rust on the fruit is not uncommon.
- Flesh: white-yellow; juicy; sweet with minimal acidity
- Ripeness for picking: mid-October
- Ripeness: December to April
Pilot
Pilot is resistant to powdery mildew and scab. The very high-yielding winter apple variety is welcome in the home garden. The large fruits have a pressure-resistant, red skin. They can be wonderfully prepared as baked apples.
- Flesh: firm and juicy; Sweetness paired with fine acidity
- Ripeness for picking: from the end of September
- Ripeness for consumption: October to May
Pinova
The robust Pinova is only suitable for altitudes below 300 m. Otherwise, the bushy tree can also cope with normal garden soil. The medium-sized fruits are round, slightly flattened and bright red.
- Flesh: pressure resistant; good aroma; refreshingly sweet and sour
- Ripeness for picking: October
- Ripeness for consumption: from mid-November to April
reanda
Reanda is a German apple variety with many advantages. She can easily be grown in cooler regions. Resistant to mildew, fire blight and scab. The medium-sized to large fruits are yellow-green with red sun cheeks. Large harvest quantities lend themselves to juicing.
- Flesh: crisp and juicy; very aromatic
- Ripeness for picking: mid to late September
- Ripeness: October to January
Very old German apple varieties
Maybe you have an old apple tree in your garden that you don’t know the name of. The following variety descriptions could help you to finally determine it. But even if you only want to plant an apple tree now, very old German apple varieties are still possible. Many of these varieties are suitable for allergy sufferers. For example Gravensteiner, Kaiser Wilhelm, Blutapfel, Dülmener Rosenapfel and the Altländer pancake apple.
Altländer pancake apple
This winter apple comes from the Old Country. A region in northern Germany that is famous for apple growing. With its hemispherical and wind-stable crown, it is also a magnificent sight in the home garden. It forms medium-sized, flat-round fruits whose dull yellow skin is red on the sunny side. The name already suggests that it gives off a good taste in pancakes.
- Flesh: firm, green-white; Mix of fruity, sweet, sour; lots of vitamin c
- Ripeness for picking: end of October to November
- Ripeness for consumption: from February to June
blood apple
Another variety, dating back to the 16th century, is simply referred to as a blood apple. But behind it hides a lover’s variety, which owes this circumstance to the excellent taste of its fruits. Its red skin can be polished to a shine. As a result, this apple variety is often used as a Christmas decoration.
- Flesh: white to light yellow; juicy and spicy at the same time
- Ripeness for picking: mid to late October
- Ripeness for consumption: December to June
Dülmen rose apple
An autumnal variety that is content with a normal, loose garden soil. It has good resistance to diseases and pests. The medium-sized to large fruits are green-yellow to red-yellow. Unfortunately, they are somewhat sensitive to pressure.
- Flesh: white-yellow; juicy; finely aromatic with a sweet and sour note
- Ripeness for picking: mid-September to October
- Ripeness: September to December
Flaming Cardinal
This variety used to be very common. So it will certainly take root in some home gardens. Possibly without her owner knowing her name. Based on the description of the fruits, he may be able to recognize them and thus identify them. These are differently shaped, have a shiny, smooth skin, which is greenish-yellow at first and later changes to straw-yellow.
- Flesh: white with green-yellow tinge; juicy and refreshing
- Ripeness for picking: mid-September to October
- Ripeness: October to February
Privy Councilor Dr. Oldenburg
Whether as a juice, cooking or baked apple, this old autumn variety can be used in many ways in the kitchen. It is also known as Oldenburg or Privy Councilor Oldenburg. The tree should get a sheltered place so that its yellow-green fruits do not fall prematurely. By the way, these apples are also reddish on the sunny side. Because of its outstanding taste, it is considered a connoisseur’s apple.
- Flesh: firm; juicy; pleasant smell; extraordinary aroma
- Ripeness for picking: mid to late September
- Ripeness: mid-September to January
Gravensteiner
A well-known autumn apple variety dating back to the 18th century. Gravensteiner is a fast-growing, loosely branched apple tree. The yellow-green skin of the large fruits is flamed red over a large area. Unfortunately, it makes very high demands on its location, in particular good soil and air moisture must be given.
- Flesh: white; juicy but brittle; nice aroma; fragrant
- Ripeness for picking: Beginning of September to October
- Ripeness for consumption: optimal August to October and later; should ripen something
Jacob Fisher
A chance find from Swabia, where the autumn apple is very popular to this day. The apple tree grows vigorously and cannot be used as a trellis apple in the home garden. You can easily determine the variety by the fruits. With up to 350 grams, they are among the giants. They are irregularly shaped, spherically flat and with a deep calyx. Initially yellow-red, they glow bright red as they mature.
- Flesh: coarse, loose and yet juicy; fruity-sweet with fine acidity
- Ripeness for picking: beginning of September
- Ripeness for consumption: September to November; but quickly becomes mealy
Kaiser Willhelm
A very old German winter apple variety that apple gourmets easily get enthusiastic about. Their acidity is compared to the acidity of wine. The large fruits can be processed into juice, cakes or dried apples, which allergy sufferers can also enjoy. Of course, the fruits also taste good as dessert apples. Each apple is yellow on the outside or red on the sun-facing side.
- Flesh: yellow-white, firm; juicy; very aromatic
- Ripeness for picking: mid-October
- Ripeness for consumption: early December to April
Prince Albert of Prussia
Robust and easy-care autumn variety that originated around 1865. Thrives in regular, well drained garden soil and is resistant to disease and pests. The fruits are spherical and reddened at harvest time. The shell is smooth and leathery to the touch.
- Flesh: white; fine, aromatic, sweet and sour
- Ripeness for picking: end of September to October
- Ripeness: November to January
