Family Apple Tree (Malus domestica) MERRIGOLD + AUKSIS + RĪGAS ROŽĀBELE

Family Multi-Apple Tree (3 in 1): Merrigold + Auksis + Rīgas Rožābele

A well-balanced collection of Baltic apple varieties, securing a progressive harvest from late summer to mid-autumn, with excellent winter storage potential.

1. Apple 'Merrigold' (Autumn variety)

An old Latvian autumn variety yielding attractive yellow fruits with excellent aroma and solid frost resistance.

In mid-September, the traditional Latvian variety 'Merrigold' reaches maturity. It is highly valued for its quality fruit and pleasant aromatic profile. The tree is characterized by weak to moderate growth, making pruning and general maintenance very easy.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Excellent flavor: Balanced sweet-tart profile accompanied by a highly pleasant, distinct aroma.
• No premature drop: Apples hang exceptionally well on the branches even when fully ripe.
• Good winter hardiness: Reliable resistance to harsh winter frosts, making it suitable for various regions.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance and flesh: Medium to large, oblong bright yellow fruits with a thin waxy coating and sparse lenticels. The flesh is very juicy, fine-grained, and tender.
• Chemical profile: Soluble solids content of 9.8 °Brix and total acid content of 2.5 g/L.
• Harvest period: Mid-September.
• Disease resistance: Moderate general resistance to pests and diseases, requiring standard basic care.

2. Apple 'Auksis' (Autumn variety with long storage life)

A highly popular, gold-medal-winning Baltic staple featuring consistent high yields, robust health, and great storage potential until late winter.

At the beginning of September, the Lithuanian legend 'Auksis' (a cross of 'McIntosh' x 'Gravensteiner', bred in 1951) ripens. Included in national genetic resources, it serves as a quality benchmark for modern breeding, offering perfectly balanced characteristics for organic home growing.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Long storage life: The apples remain in prime condition in a standard cellar until January or February.
• Reliable yields: Starts bearing fruit early (3rd to 4th year after planting) and crops heavily every year.
• Excellent disease resistance: High natural resistance to apple scab, powdery mildew, and bark diseases – perfect for chemical-free gardens.
• Award-winning quality: Awarded a gold medal at the Erfurt International Horticultural Exhibition (1965).

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance and taste: Large (120 – 130 g), oblate-spherical fruits. The light yellow skin is overlaid with a carmine-red blush and stripes. Yellowish flesh is tender, exceptionally juicy, and aromatic sweet-tart.
• Harvest period: Early September.
• Pollination: Outcrossing. The presence of the other varieties on this multi-graft tree ensures optimal cross-pollination.

3. Apple 'Rīgas Rožābele' (Late summer variety)

An easy-to-grow Latvian variety yielding tender, highly juicy fruits, showing excellent tolerance for poorer soils.

Rounding out the summer season is the Latvian variety 'Rīgas Rožābele' (translated as Riga Rose Apple). Discovered as a chance seedling in Riga in 1940 and later popularized by pomologist Jānis Kārkliņš, it stands out for its weak growth habit and outstanding modesty, cropping successfully even where other varieties fail.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Soil tolerance: Performs and yields reliably even in poor, less nutrient-rich soils.
• Compact growth: Naturally weaker growth makes crown training and pruning very manageable.
• Good overall health: Shows reliable resistance to apple scab and canker.
• Early bearing: The tree begins producing fruit at a very early age.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance and taste: Small to medium, slightly ribbed yellow apples striped with red. The flesh is highly juicy, delicate, and sweet-tart.
• Harvest period: Late summer (late August). The fruits possess a moderate storage capability for a summer apple.
• Grower's note: In exceptionally hot summers, it can be somewhat prone to powdery mildew; maintaining an open, airy crown helps prevent this.