Family Apple Tree (Malus domestica) KONFETNOJE + ROBERTS + AUKSIS + MERRIGOLD 26/25

Family Apple Tree (4 in 1): Konfetnoye + Roberts + Auksis + Merrigold

An outstanding fruit symphony for the sweetest summer and a bountiful autumn. Enjoy honey-sweet summer "candies," crunchy red apples, and finish the harvest with fragrant autumn gold that lasts into winter.

1. Apple 'Konfetnoye' (Summer Variety)

A highly popular Russian summer variety prized for its extremely sweet, candy-like dessert flavor and outstanding frost hardiness.

The 'Konfetnoye' (translating to Candy) variety opens the fruit season on this tree. Bred from 'Papirovka' and 'Korobovka', it is widely loved for its pure, mild sweetness completely devoid of acidity. It is an ideal apple for children to enjoy fresh straight from the tree.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Candy-like sweetness: Excellent dessert flavor with a strong aroma and no tartness.
• Early bearing: Starts producing fruit as early as 3 to 4 years after planting.
• High frost hardiness: Easily withstands temperatures down to -34 °C (-29 °F).

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Medium-sized yellow apples (80–120 g) with red-pink striping. The flesh is creamy, fine-grained, and very juicy.
• Harvest Time: Late July to early August.
• Storability: Short (lasts approx. 1 month in cold storage). The fruits are sensitive to bruising, so they are best for direct consumption or quick processing.

2. Apple 'Roberts' (Early Summer Variety)

A large, purple-red summer apple with excellent crunchiness and full resistance to apple scab.

In mid-August, the Latvian variety 'Roberts' (2009) ripens. It attracts with visually highly attractive, almost entirely dark red fruits. It forms a strong, healthy tree that is absolutely ideal for organic, chemical-free growing.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Gorgeous color: Dark purple-red covers almost the entire fruit.
• High resistance: Reliably immune to apple scab (Vf/Rvi6 gene).
• Firm texture: Crunchy and juicy flesh with a sweet-sour, aromatic flavor.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Large to very large fruits with a firm skin and strong waxy bloom. Yellowish flesh has a pinkish tint under the skin.
• Harvest Time: Mid-August (around the same time as 'Discovery').
• Storability: Short shelf life, meant for quick consumption (approx. 2 months in the fridge).

3. Apple 'Auksis' (Long-storing Autumn Variety)

The most beloved apple in the Baltics! A gold-medal variety with tender, juicy flesh that lasts in the cellar until late winter.

In early September, the Lithuanian legend 'Auksis' (crossed from 'McIntosh' x 'Gravensteiner') takes the lead. It is characterized by beautifully colored fruits and high-quality, sweet-sour flesh. In the Baltics, it is the most popular variety, serving as the benchmark of quality for modern breeding.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Long storability: Apples remain in superb condition in a good cellar until January/February.
• Acclaimed taste: Excellent, sweet-sour, very juicy flesh (won gold in Erfurt in 1965).
• Easy cultivation: Resistant to scab, powdery mildew, and bark diseases, ideal for organic growing.
• Pollination: The variety is self-incompatible, and the presence of the other varieties on this tree ensures perfect cross-pollination.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Large fruits (120 – 130 g) of light yellow color with a carmine-red blush.
• Harvest Time: Early September.
• Yield: High, annual, and with an early onset of bearing (3rd to 4th year).

4. Apple 'Merrigold' (Autumn Variety)

An old Latvian variety with pale yellow fruits, delicious pulp, and stable yield that holds firmly on the tree.

In mid-September, the Latvian autumn variety 'Merrigold' closes the season on this tree. It delights any grower seeking reliability, as the fruits hold excellently on the branches even in stronger winds. It offers a great, balanced sweet-sour taste.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Flavor and aroma: Juicy, fine-grained flesh with a very pleasant scent.
• No fruit drop: Ripe apples hold reliably on the branches until harvest.
• Winter hardiness: Good resistance to winter frosts.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Medium to large, slightly oblong fruits of bright yellow color with a thin waxy bloom.
• Harvest Time: Ripens in mid-September.
• Resilience: Disease resistance is medium, so regular pruning to keep the canopy open is recommended to maintain tree health.