The 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose' will also ‘Applesauce’ called and is ideal for making applesauce. However, the tree needs an optimal location and good care. Here you can find out how to properly grow and care for the 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose'.
The 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is an apple with high demands, which only develops large, spicy apples with a fine honey aroma under the best conditions. The fruit breaks down into a frothy apple sauce and is therefore sometimes called 'apple sauce'.
Other synonyms for the variety are 'German Sheep's Nose', 'Frankfurter Matapfel', 'Light Matapfel' and 'Grenadier'.
"Contents"
- ‘Rhenish sheep nose’: profile
- Origin and history of the apple
- How does the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' apple taste and what does it look like?
- Cultivation and care of the 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose': This is important to note
- Rheinische Schafsnase apple: harvest and use
‘Rhenish sheep nose’: profile
| synonyms | 'Apfelmuser', 'German Sheep's Nose', 'Frankfurter Matapfel', 'Light Matapfel', 'Grenadier' |
| fruit | medium to large; When fully ripe, the basic color is golden yellow with bright red marbling |
| the taste | juicy, spicy, depending on the location sour or with a honey aroma |
| yield | quite tall and regular; tends to alternate in cold areas |
| harvest time | from mid-August |
| maturity | from September |
| shelf life | medium; can be stored until September |
| growth | initially strong, later medium strong |
| climate | not suitable for windy, cool and cold altitudes |
| diseases and pests | very susceptible to apple scab, fruit tree canker, fire blight, powdery mildew, northern apple bug |
Origin and history of the apple
The origin of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is unclear: according to its name, its origin in the Rhineland is assumed. There it was allegedly first mentioned around the year 1600 as 'Apfelmuser'. Even today, the variety is often found near the Main, the Danube and the Rhine. On the other hand, the variety is often used as a synonym for the apple variety 'Grenadier'. This is said to come from the United Kingdom, where it is said to have been presented for the first time in 1862. Her breeder received a Victoria Medal of Honor and was also honored by the Royal Horticultural Society excellent. If you compare the fruits of 'Grenadier' and 'Rheinischer Schafsnase', you will notice similarities but also significant differences. A close relationship between the varieties is possible. For example, the 'Grenadier' could have developed through a random mutation of the 'Apfelmuser', or a crossing partner introduced other properties.
How does the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' apple taste and what does it look like?
The apples of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' are medium-sized to large and can be round, flattened or conical in shape, which is usually very uniform. Five clear edges (fruit ribs) are often recognizable. The stem is quite short and thick and sits deep in the stem fossa, not protruding or hardly protruding from it. The basic color of the skin is green, with increasing maturity more dark green-yellow, finally golden yellow. The covering color is only developed on the sunny side and forms bright red, irregular strokes up to an almost extensively marbled red colouration. The lenticels are clearly visible throughout the shell.
Under the hard shell of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' hides a greenish-white, later yellowish-white, juicy flesh. It has a medium to coarse cell structure and a spicy flavor. The aroma is closely related to the growing conditions: in unsuitable locations, the apples are described as sour with sufficient sweetness and no particular aroma. In other places, a taste of honey develops, which is perceived as very tasty.
Cultivation and care of the 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose': This is important to note
The 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose' initially grows strong and upright, later becoming medium-strong. After the youth phase, many broad fruiting branches emerge, on which there are a number of fruiting short shoots. The tree grows to medium height on medium-growing rootstocks such as M7, so it does not grow unchecked. An annual pruning of the leading branches and the fruit wood is recommended in order to maintain high fruit quality. You can read more about this in our article on Apple Tree Pruning Experienced.
It needs a sufficiently good, warm and nutrient-rich soil, sandy loam soils are ideal. Heavy, clayey soils and also very sandy ones are therefore not suitable for cultivation. In case of doubt, the future location should be provided with plenty of mature compost, clay flour or a high-quality potting soil like ours Plantura organic universal soil be extensively and profoundly upgraded.
The 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose' is also susceptible to frost: Cold altitudes, cool, damp valleys and wind-open, rough areas lead to frost damage to the bark and wood.
A place in full sun is not a must for the 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose': it also grows in semi-shade satisfactory as long as sufficient air movement ensures that diseases and pests do not find it too easy to have. Unfortunately, the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is also highly susceptible to apple scab and fruit tree cancer, both of which occur primarily in damp and cold microclimates. Fire blight and powdery mildew as well as the Nordic apple bug also occur with above-average frequency on the 'Rhenish Sheep's Nose'. The best possible location and good care are the most effective ways to prevent this.
The light pink flowers appear mid-early to late and are not very susceptible to frost. The 'Rheinische Schafnase' produces plenty of pollen and is a reliable pollinator for the 'gold parmesan‘, ‘Cox Orange‘, ‘Landsberger Renette‘, ‘Champagne Renette', 'Luxenburger Renette' and practically all other medium-early Reinettes, all of which can also fertilize him in return.
In the best locations and with the right care, the yield of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is quite good and regular. However, in locations that are too cold or after a radical pruning, the tree all too easily goes into alternation, i.e. it begins to set an extremely large number of fruits and then almost no fruits again.
Rheinische Schafsnase apple: harvest and use
In very mild locations, apples for storage can be harvested from the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' tree as early as mid-August. Under the best storage conditions - i.e. cool, damp and dark - they can be kept until December at the latest. Ripe fruits of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' are not wind-resistant, so they fall easily to the ground and get bruises because the shell is not pressure-resistant. The fruit is ripe for consumption from September and can then also be optimally used. As an excellent economic apple, which breaks down into a frothy mush when cooked, it is particularly suitable for cider, preserving and making desserts. Its special consistency after cooking also earned it its trivial name "Apfelmuser".
A special feature of the 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is that it retains its color during processing, i.e. the flesh does not oxidize and brown as quickly on the cut edges.
The 'Rheinische Schafsnase' is too diva-like for you and you want a variety whose robustness you can rely on (almost) every location? Then we recommend you to get the ‘sun host apple', a Baden-Württemberg regional variety and a real all-round talent.