Malus domestica 'IDARED' apple tree - late

Idared is a late variety of apple. It produces large fruit with red skin almost all over the fruit except for places where they tough one other or were covered with leaves. The taste is naturally sweet with a hint of acidity. It is best harvested in the second half of October. Eaten fresh they can be very sharp in flavour but given at least two weeks of storage the taste changes to milder and sweet. They are best appraciated from Christmas until end of January and can be stored until early spring.

Apple trees should be pruned in mid-winter. Remove vertical branches and shorten side branches. Fruiting wood is mostly horizontal. It needs humus-rich, well-drained soil. It is self-sterile and needs a pollinator to crop well. These are examples of the best pollination partners: Granny Smith, James Grieve, Melrose, or Opal. It is fully hardy but needs to be placed in full sun and a warm location to fruit well.

Last update 03-05-2011