Alkmene

Taste

Susceptibility & resistance

Parentage

Geheimrat Dr. Oldenburg × Cox's Orange Pippin

Breeder

Institut Müncheberg

Pollination

self-sterile – needs a pollinator variety

Pollinator varieties

Cox Orange, Discovery, Elstar, Jonathan

Fruit weight

127.6 g

Given in thirds of a month (early / mid / late) for the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate; altitude and season shift them.

Fruit

Attractive, at most medium-sized dessert apple with fine Cox-like aroma; rated 1-2. First-class in good sun and reputedly well tolerated by allergy sufferers. Fruit holds firmly; selective picking increases size and weight.

Growth

Medium vigour at first, weak later. Upright, rather small crown with horizontal branches that become dense; fruits mainly on terminal spurs. Wind-firm.

Yield

Early into bearing, regular but with frequent blossom and June drop; crop weak to medium, at times over-heavy. Ripening spreads over up to 6 weeks.

Notes

Ideal for home and small gardens as bush/half-standard and a good pollinator. Less suited as a standard tree in orchards, and only with regular pruning. Ripe fruit stays on the tree. Recommended by the NRW orchard-protection committee. Neglecting pruning leads to early exhaustion.

Care

Shorten main branches yearly to encourage wood shoots; thin regularly and rejuvenate fruit wood every few years. Pick over several times at 8-10 day intervals by fruit size. Cut Monilia-affected shoots back ~20 cm into healthy wood in warm bloom weather.