Note: Ripening times based on the Adelaide Hills.
Apples should be planted in well drained soils in a sunny position. At harvest, colour develops best with warm days and cooler nights.
Royal Gala
Fruit: Medium round.
Skin: Stripe red-orange blush over yellow background.
Flesh: Creamy yellow; crisp and juicy; sweet flavour.
Maturity: Ripens mid-late Feb.
Pollinators: Red Delicious, Red Fuji.
Comments: One of the best flavoured apples available. Good keeping qualities for an early apple. Suitable fresh, in salads or cooked.
Jonathan
Fruit: Medium round with short stem.
Skin: Red blush with some stripe over green – yellow background.
Flesh: White; crisp and juicy; sweet.
Maturity: Ripens early to mid March.
Pollinators: Granny Smith, Delicious.
Comments: Lovely crisp traditional variety.
Red Jonathan
Fruit: Medium round with short stem.
Skin: Deep red blush with some stripes over green – yellow background.
Flesh: White; crisp and juicy; sweet.
Maturity: Ripens early March.
Pollinators: Granny Smith, Delicious.
Comments: Similar to ordinary Jonathan except it has more colour.
Golden Delicious
Fruit: Large round to conical.
Skin: Pale green to yellow.
Flesh: Creamy coloured; crisp and juicy; sweet; fine textured.
Maturity: Ripens mid March.
Pollinators: Granny Smith, Red Delicious.
Comments: Produces heavy crops. Used for pies, tarts, caramelised in cakes, muffins.
Dwarf Golden Delicious
“Starkspur”
Fruit: Large conical.
Skin: Pale green to golden yellow.
Flesh: Creamy; crisp and juicy; sweet; fine textured.
Maturity: Ripens mid to late March.
Pollinators: Red Delicious, Red Fuji.
Comments: Similar to Golden Delicious. Spur variety. Small tree, 1.5 to 2 metres.
Red Delicious
“Hi Early”
Fruit: Medium to large conical shape.
Skin: Dark red stripe over a green-yellow background.
Flesh: White; crisp and juicy; sweet flavour.
Maturity: Ripens mid to late March.
Pollinators: Golden Delicious, Granny Smith.
Comments: The most widely planted lateral-bearing delicious. Use for Asian style cooking, fresh and salads.
Cox’s Orange Pippin
Fruit: Medium round.
Skin: Red orange stripe over greenish background.
Flesh: Creamy; crisp and juicy.
Maturity: Ripens end of March.
Pollinators: Granny Smith, Jonathan.
Comments: A good keeping dessert apple.
Dwarf Red Delicious
“Tas-Ag”
Fruit: Large conical.
Skin: Full red blush over most of fruit.
Flesh: White; firm; crisp and juicy.
Maturity: Ripens mid to late March.
Pollinators: Golden Delicious, Gala.
Comments: A spur type Red Delicious which produces large crops. Dwarfing tree growing 1.5 to 2 metres.
Red Fuji
“Naga Fu No.2”
Fruit: Large round.
Skin: Dull red blush over green-yellow background.
Flesh: Creamy white; crisp and juicy; excellent sweet flavour; aromatic; fine textured.
Maturity: Ripens mid April.
Pollinators: Delicious, Gala.
Comments: Excellent storage. Used for salads, pies and sauces.
Pinkabelle (R) (TM)
Dwarf Pink Lady
Fruit: Medium size round to conical.
Skin: Attractive pink to red with some stripe over green-yellow background.
Flesh: White; crisp and juicy; good sweet flavour.
Maturity: Ripens mid April to early March.
Pollinators: Gala, Granny Smith, Red Fuji, or a second Pinkabelle.
Comments: Dwarf Pink Lady producing full size fruit. Grows up to 2m high and 1m wide. Ideal for pots or small gardens. Heavy cropping.
Granny Smith
Fruit: Medium-round white.
Skin: Deep green with white lenticel spots.
Flesh: White; very firm; crisp and juicy; tart flavour.
Maturity: Ripens mid April to late May.
Pollinators: Jonathan, Golden and Red Delicious.
Comments: All-purpose apple. Ripens over long period. Australia’s own, world renowned. Use for cooking, salads and eating fresh.
Pink Lady
Fruit: Medium-size round to conical.
Skin: Attractive pink to red with some stripe over green-yellow background.
Flesh: White; crisp and juicy; good sweet flavour.
Maturity: Ripens late April to mid May.
Pollinators: Gala, granny Smith, Red Fuji.
Comments: A very attractive variety with good storage capacity. Sweeter flesh than Lady William. A world class apple. Used for eating fresh, salads, sauces and pies.
Sundowner
Fruit: Medium round conical.
Skin: Attractive red blush with white lenticel spots.
Flesh: White; firm; crisp and juicy; sweet.
Maturity: Ripens late May to mid June.
Pollinators: Delicious, Granny Smith.
Comments: Great late season variety, good keeping quality.
Lady William
Fruit: Medium round, slightly conical.
Skin: Red blush over 90% of fruit with a slight green stripe. Greenish background colour.
Flesh: White; very firm; crisp and juicy.
Maturity: Ripens late May to early June.
Pollinators: Gala, Granny Smith, Jonathan.
Comments: Should be stored before eating to allow flavour to develop. Eat fresh or add to salads.
Leprechaun
Fruit: Medium-large round.
Skin: Deep green with white lenticel spots.
Flesh: White; very firm; crisp and juicy; tart flavour.
Maturity: Ripens mid April to late May.
Pollinators: Jonathan, Golden and Red Delicious.
Comments: A fantastic dwarf version of the old favourite Granny Smith. Suitable for small gardens or to grow in pots.
Monty’s Surprise
Fruit: Large, slightly asymmetrical with prominent red blush.
Skin: Red blush over green-yellow background.
Flesh: Crisp.
Maturity: Ripens late March to early April.
Pollinators: Pinkabelle, Leprechaun, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala.
Comments: A dwarfing variety suited to pots and smaller gardens. Scientific research shows that this apple has some of the highest flavonoid and antioxidant levels of any apple in the world, and these naturally occurring compounds are beneficial to the human body in assisting the immune system to fight infection and disease. It also contains high micro-nutrient levels, so an apple a day may really keep the doctor away!