Organic Apple Tree Wolfs Paw - Malus domestica

The 'Patte de Loup'  or 'Wolf's Paw' Organic Apple Tree is a very old and highly prized variety loved by enthusiasts of delicious apples. It is a vigorous, fertile, and healthy tree. The fruits have a rustic appearance with their more or less irregular shape, one side more developed than the other, and their rough skin of a somewhat indeterminate colour, a mix of bronze and green, but it reveals a pleasantly firm flesh and a very original aromatic palette when tasted. It is also an excellent storing apple that only slowly deteriorates despite handling. Harvest takes place in October, but it continues to ripen on shelves, so enjoy it from December until April. The planting of bare-root fruit trees is done from late October to February, as soon as they are received.

Plant from Organic Agriculture. 

The apple tree, known as Malus domestica in Latin, is a tree of the rose family and has been present in France and Europe since ancient times. The 'Patte de Loup' variety has very ancient origins rooted in Maine-et-Loire, and it was already appreciated in the Middle Ages. It is not very susceptible to diseases, particularly scab, and it withstands wind well because its fruits are firmly attached to the tree branches. The productivity is very good and consistent. The relatively late flowering occurs between April and May, when the most destructive frosts are no longer a concern. It is a self-sterile variety like many apple trees, so the proximity of a good pollinator such as 'Reine des Reinettes', 'Cox's Orange Pippin', or 'Golden Delicious' is perfect. Harvesting takes place at the end of October to avoid frost, but the apples will not reach their full ripeness until December or even January. For storage, a cool and well-ventilated room is needed, with an ideal temperature of 8°C (46.4°F). A garage or basement is better than a cellar, which is often too humid. Store the picked apples that have not fallen, placed on clean shelves or crates, with the stem down and ideally separated from each other by 1 or 2cm (0.3 or 1in) of empty space.

The 'Patte de Loup' Apples are of fairly variable size but remain small. They have a thick, rough skin with scars and are not very appetizing with their yellowish-brown, green-tinged colour, slightly scaly and heavily punctuated with grey. These "imperfections" do not alter their taste qualities. 'Patte de Loup' is among the most delicious apples that exist. The pale yellow flesh, slightly greenish, with a fine and tight grain, is crisp and sweet, revealing fruity and aniseed notes when eaten raw. It is also very good in pies and compotes, and since it ripens late, it takes over from other varieties, ensuring a supply of fruit throughout the winter.

For transportation reasons, our tallest scions may be pruned before shipping. They are suitable for all common training sizes: cordons, espaliers, goblets, half-standards, and low standards, except for high standards. If you would like more information or advice on training your fruit trees, please feel free to contact us.