Apple Tree Jumbo Hanners - Malus domestica

The Malus domestica 'Jumbo Hanners' or 'Stark Jumbo' produces one of the largest apples on the market, with its fruit reaching up to 800 grams: one fruit = one pie! Its apple is remarkably amethyst red at ripeness. It is a fairly recent variety, very vigorous and productive, with a mid-late season flowering. It produces a slightly elongated apple, with a very large size, with a thin, shiny, very red skin on a green background. Its creamy white flesh is semi-tender, juicy, sweet and tart, with a delicate aromatic fragrance. Picking begins around the end of September, the fruits can be consumed right after harvest and can be stored for 2 to 3 months. With its unmatched size, this apple, pleasantly tart and very rich in sugars, is delicious to bite into. Its colouration and excellent cooking resistance make Jumbo a versatile apple for various culinary uses: pies, compotes, crumbles, not to mention accompanying savoury dishes. It is a self-sterile variety that requires the presence of other apple varieties to ensure pollination.

The Malus domestica, also known as Malus communis or Malus pumila, is commonly called the Common or Domestic Apple Tree. It belongs to the Rosaceae family. Present in Europe since ancient times, it is a fruit tree native to the forests of Central Asia. It has excellent hardiness and is likely the most cultivated fruit tree in Northern Europe. There are approximately 20,000 varieties, including around 10,000 of American origin, 2,000 of English origin, and 2,000 of Chinese origin. The 'Jumbo Hanners' Apple Tree, also known as 'Stark Jumbo', is a variety resulting from a mutation obtained by Daniel A. Hanners at Hood Rever in Oregon (USA) in 1970. This protected variety is distributed by Georges Delbard Nurseries. Due to the incredible size of its fruits, it is more commonly known as the Giant Apple Tree.

The 'Jumbo Hanners' Apple Tree is a spreading tree, which can reach a height of 5 metres (16 feet) and a width of 4 metres (13 feet) at maturity. Its habit is suitable for low or tall forms and espaliers. Its foliage consists of large, ovate leaves, dark green on top, whitish green underneath, with deeply serrated edges. The mid-late flowering occurs around mid-April, which generally protects it from frost. The white and pink flowers are destroyed by frost at temperatures from -2 to -3°C. The 'Jumbo' Apple Tree is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures as low as -30°C, making it suitable for cultivation in all regions of France. It is a diploid variety, which despite its vigour, produces poor quality pollen, making it very weakly capable of pollinating other apple varieties. It produces apples with few or no fertile seeds. It is said to be self-sterile, which is why the presence of apple trees that flower at the same time is necessary. Varieties such as 'Cox's Orange', 'Golden Delicious', 'Gala', 'Granny Smith', 'Royal Gala', 'Reine des Reinettes', or any other mid-late flowering variety are suitable for cross-pollination. Ornamental apple trees such as 'Perpetu Evereste' and 'John Downie' flower abundantly and can be excellent pollinators.

The 'Jumbo Hanners' Apple Tree is a vigorous variety, with moderately fast fruiting and high productivity, resistant to diseases such as scab, rust, powdery mildew, canker, and fire blight.

The 'Jumbo' apple can be consumed raw or cooked, in compotes, pastries, paired with cheeses, or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes such as black pudding, pork, or salads. It is also perfect for making juice. Rich in carbohydrates and fructose, it is invigorating, energising, and hydrating. Its content of vitamins A, B, C, and E, minerals, antioxidants, and diatary fibre makes the apple a health asset. The fruits can be stored for 2 to 3 months. Storage can be done in a cool, clean place, protected from light at a temperature around 8 to 10°C, or in a cold room, sealed from outside air at a temperature of 1 to 3°C. The apple releases ethylene, a gas that promotes fruit ripening. To accelerate the ripening of your other fruits or vegetables, place your apples next to them.

Very popular thanks to its fruits, the apple tree finds its place in the garden for the pleasure of young and old. Among a wide range of apple trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits your desires.