Swiss Orange Apple: Taste & Care

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 well-sounding name, the taste of this apple is also particularly good. Unlike some others apple varieties However, the gardener not only needs an almost perfect location for the cultivation of this large and extraordinary apple, but also a good hand for the care of apple trees.

Swiss orange apple: profile

synonyms	'Orange Suisse', 'Pomme Orange Suisse'
fruit	medium to large; green-yellow to yellow ground color with orange-red top color
the taste	aromatic, juicy, more sweet than sour
yield	initially regularly, later more alternating
harvest time	from the end of September
maturity	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 is a cross between the well-known and very popular parent strains ′ontario' and 'Cox Orange′ emerged. In 1954 it was marketed for the first time after the approval of the variety, the propagation phase and the first production.
Other well-known names for the Swiss orange apple are 'Orange Suisse' and 'Pomme Orange Suisse'.

Properties and taste of the Swiss orange apple

The 'Swiss Orange Apple' apple variety bears fruit with many good qualities, but is somewhat more difficult and demanding to grow 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:

• Mid-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 (depending on the rootstock) strong 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 health: The variety is highly susceptible to fire blight and also susceptible to pit (calcium deficiency). Susceptibility to powdery mildew and scab is low. Read more 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 strain before attempting it Plant apple tree.

site conditions

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 Swiss orange apple

The Swiss orange apple is a diploid variety that can be pollinated by many other varieties and also pollinates other varieties well as it flowers profusely itself. The parents ′Cox Orange' and 'Ontario′ and 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 is the Fertilization of the apple tree with a slow release organic fertilizer like this Plantura organic universal fertilizer or a balanced one compost important. Young trees need a thorough training and maintenance pruning and older trees need one annual pruning to ensure the formation of new fruit wood, otherwise their growth is too weak will. At 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 in no case be planted in too shady places or in places with little air movement. In addition, high magnesium and potassium doses should be avoided.

Harvest time and use of the Swiss orange apple

Swiss orange apple: harvest

The apple variety 'Swiss orange apple' 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.

use

The 'Swiss Orange Apple' 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.

Tip: 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 that Plantura bee pasture you can say thank you and at the same time ensure the pollination of your trees.