6 late apple varieties

The ‘Granny Smith’ apple tree: one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees in France

‘Granny Smith’ gives us the famous crisp, tangy green apples. It is one of the most popular late apple trees and proves to be very productive.

The fruit harvest takes place in November. The apples are quite large (8 cm in diameter), shiny, and a beautiful bright green. Their flesh is firm, juicy but not very sweet, with a fresh taste, making them suitable for both savoury (salads, cheeses, etc.) and sweet (pastries, compotes, etc.) preparations. Of course, they are also a perfect apple to eat raw, just as they are!

Long-lasting fruits, they can be stored for several months in a cool place away from frost.

‘Granny Smith’ is a good pollinator, promoting the fruiting of other varieties. However, as it is not self-fertile, it will need the presence of other trees flowering at the same time (March-April) to bear fruit.

This apple tree is best suited for regions south of the Loire: it indeed requires warmth in autumn for its fruits to ripen properly.

The ‘Belle de Boskoop’ apple tree: large apples that can be stored until March.

The ‘Belle de Boskoop’ apple tree rewards us with fruits that are harvested from late October to November. They can be stored for a long time, sometimes until spring.

Its large apples have a rather irregular shape, with a colour that varies between light green and yellow, speckled with bright red. They have a rather grainy, juicy flesh that becomes sweeter and more melting over time.

‘Belle de Boskoop’ is a vigorous and productive variety, which also has the advantage of being less susceptible to apple tree diseases (canker, scab). Its semi-spreading silhouette allows it to benefit from good natural ventilation, limiting the proliferation of fungi.

Its bright and abundant pink-white flowering occurs in April and is not afraid of frosts. Therefore, it is an apple tree that can be grown in almost all our regions, but it must be planted in cool (never dry) or even moist soil.

As it is not self-fertile, it will need the presence of at least one other compatible apple tree.

The ‘Choupette’ apple tree: fruits from October with a delicious taste

‘Choupette’ is a late variety of apple, with harvest occurring in October. Its colour is a red hue leaning towards violet, sprinkled with small white dots, which differs somewhat from the shades typically seen in apples.

In terms of taste, the flesh is juicy, with a balance of sweetness and acidity, creating a perfect equilibrium. Quite firm, it becomes more tender over time during storage. Whether for eating fresh or cooking, it is suitable for all uses.

Easy to care for, this hybrid apple variety is hardy and also resistant to diseases. It comes from “parents” that are known to be relatively insensitive to scab and powdery mildew, which reduces the need for treatments.

This elegant apple tree offers a late flowering period from April to May. Plant at least one other apple tree that blooms at the same time alongside it to ensure pollination.

The ‘Châtaignier’ apple tree: the cider apple of Normandy

‘Châtaignier’ is an old variety of apple trees, particularly cultivated in Normandy. While it is widely used for making cider or juice, it is also a good eating apple, perfect for enjoying raw.

The fruits are colourful, displaying a lovely yellow-green hue, more or less maculate with red. They are harvested in late autumn, from November to December. Under good conditions, they can be stored without issues until the following spring.

Be particularly gentle during harvesting if you want fruits for storage: the very tender flesh and thin skin of these apples can indeed be more easily damaged. In terms of taste, this sweet fruit is less acidic than other varieties.

‘Châtaignier’ proves to be productive, hardy, and resistant to scab. Again, plant this apple tree in the orchard alongside at least one other cultivar that blooms in April.

The ‘Calville Rouge d'Hiver’ apple tree: a late red apple that can be stored until spring.

‘Calville Rouge d’Hiver’ is another late heirloom apple tree that originates from Normandy. It produces beautiful blood-red fruits with pink flesh when ripe, also known as “Sanguinole” in reference to this colour.

The texture and taste are delicate: the flesh is melting and juicy, with a tangy yet sweet flavour. Some detect musky notes, while others find a hint of raspberry. It is best enjoyed raw, as a dessert apple, to fully appreciate its aromas. In terms of shape, the apple is irregular, bumpy around the eye (the underside, opposite the peduncle).

Less commonly cultivated now, this variety still has many advantages. Harvested at maturity, between late November and early December, its apples can be stored for several months. Pollination can be ensured by the presence of other apple trees such as ‘Reine des Reinettes’ or ‘Golden Delicious’.

While this apple tree can withstand late frosts, it is more sensitive to summer heat. Therefore, reserve its cultivation for cooler, mountainous, or northern regions.

The ‘Fuji’ apple: a highly valued variety with excellent storage qualities in Japan

The ‘Fuji’ apple tree is very popular in Japan, where it originates. It produces large apples over 8 cm in diameter, perfectly round. They display a lovely red colour against a yellow-green background, along with a shiny skin. In terms of taste, it will appeal to those who dislike acidity: juicy, sweet, and sugary, it reveals delicate notes of honey. It’s an excellent eating apple!

Flowering occurs around mid-March, and harvesting takes place from mid-October to November. ‘Fuji’ produces perfect storage fruits that can last for nearly 8 months if picked at ripeness and stored under optimal conditions.

This variety is not very sensitive to frost and downy mildew, but is less resistant to scab.

Like the other late apple trees mentioned, ‘Fuji’ is not self-fertile, so it will require the presence of one or more congeners to ensure its pollination.