Fruit Tree Database

Fruit Type

Apple

Variety/Cultivar

Gravenstein

Fruit Description

Large, flat, conical fruit, greeny yellow skin with red stripes. With their crisp, juicy flavour, Gravvies are a valued early season apple that is best eaten when in season as they don’t store well. A good apple for the home garden, as they tend to ripe

Common Uses

Cooks fluffily, so good for pies, but also excellent early eating apple. Not a good storer.

Origin

A heritage variety that is more than 350 years old. Possibly Schleswig-Holstein, possibly Italy, pre-1667

Pollination

Gravenstein is a triploid variety, ie it produces non-viable pollen which cannot fertilize other varieties. About 110-115 days from full bloom to the start of harvest. Pollinated by Abas, Irish Peach, Lord Lambourne, McIntosh, Red Braeburn, Vista Bella

Chill Hours

700 hours, i.e. a medium-chill variety.

Blossom Time

Early to mid-season.

Harvest Time

-38 days Red Delicious, late January in central Victoria.

Production Notes

Tree is vigorous and spreading. Partial tip-bearer. Grow well in USDA zones 3 to 11.

Disease Susceptibility

Moderately resistant to black spot (apple scab)

Images