Apple Tree Antares - Malus domestica

The Antares Apple Tree is an appealing variety. The fruits have the appearance of old-fashioned apples, but the tree benefits from modern advancements in selection. Harvest occurs in early September, and the fruits keep well during the winter. They display lovely colours: yellow and orange mix together to create a delicious marbling. On the other hand, the flesh is juicy, crunchy, and not mealy, with a well-flavoured taste that strikes a good balance between sweet and tangy.

The apple tree belongs to the Rosaceae family and has been present in France and Europe since antiquity. The Antares Apple Tree is a recent commercial creation by INRA Angers. The cross-breeding that led to this variety aimed to make Antares resistant to scab and restore an authentic taste to the apple. The Antares Apple Tree is not self-fertile and is pollinated by varieties such as 'Golden Delicious', 'Idared', 'Granny Smith', or 'Reine des Reinettes'.

The apple, with its beautifully coloured skin and fragrant, crunchy flesh, is a real success. Delicious when eaten raw, it is also ideally suited for cooking. When harvested fully ripe and stored correctly, it can be kept in a cool place for up to 7 months. To harvest, pick the apples when they easily detach from the tree with a slight twist of the wrist. Check that the seeds are black inside by cutting open a sample apple. If they are light and firmly attached, you must wait longer. To store, place them flat one by one with the stem facing down in clean wooden crates. The ideal storage location should have a temperature of 8 to 10°C.

Despite the high quality of its apples, this variety does not produce many flowers and, therefore, not many fruits. Thinning will thus not be necessary. Flowering occurs in April and is quite extensive, not fearing spring frosts. This variety will also tolerate winter hardships better in adequately drained soil than in sweltering summers.