Apple (Malus domestica) PIROS

The 'Piros' apple tree is a German summer variety (Malus domestica) bred by crossing 'Helios' and 'Apollo'. It is known for its early ripeness, attractive appearance and the excellent flavour of its fruit. The fruit ripens in mid-August and is medium to large (6-8 cm in diameter), spherical in shape, with a smooth skin. The skin is greenish-yellow at the base and is heavily overlaid with red, giving it an attractive appearance. The flesh is creamy-white, tender, juicy, with a sweet and sour taste and a delicate aroma.

The 'Piros' variety is appreciated for its good shelf life, which can be up to 4-6 weeks under the right conditions. The variety shows resistance to scab (Enturia inaqualis) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), which makes it particularly suitable for organic cultivation.

Rootstock M26 is a semi-dwarf type of rootstock, derived from a cross between rootstocks M9 and M16. This rootstock is ideal for gardeners and smaller growers who require medium sized trees (2.5-3.5m height) with production. Trees on the M26 rootstock begin to bear about 2-3 years after planting and are characterised by a regular and abundant crop. The root system is deeper and more robust than that of the M9 rootstock, which gives the tree better stability and allows it to be grown on a wider range of soil types.

The M26 rootstock requires support in the early years of cultivation, especially in areas with windy weather. The trees are also more resistant to frost than those on the M9 rootstock. Combined with the variety 'Piros', this rootstock provides the optimum balance between vigorous tree vigour, fruit production and easy canopy management, making it particularly important for intensive cultivation even for small gardens.