Apple Tree Ariane - Malus domestica

The Ariane Apple is a late variety, fairly vigorous and highly productive. It produces bi-coloured fruits, bright red with a yellow wash, round and squat. Their firm flesh is crisp and juicy, sweet and tart. It has a sparkling mouthfeel. Harvest takes place from late September to October. It is a keeping apple that should be harvested just when the seeds turn brown. Specifically, pick the apples when they easily detach from the tree with a slight twist of the wrist. It can be stored for up to 7 months in a cool place (cellar or refrigerator). The Ariane Apple is not self-fertile.

The apple tree is native to Europe, including France where its presence has been documented since antiquity. The Ariane Apple is a creation of INRA Angers in 1979. The initial cross between the Rome Beauty apple and the wild Malus fauribunda B21 created a hybrid, which was then used for a long series of selections using, among others, the Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Melba varieties. All of this work led to the Ariane Apple, which contains the genes for resistance to apple scab from Malus fayribunda B21. In addition to its resistance, it has a good appearance, an interesting taste, and good storage qualities.

The Ariane Apple is an upright tree, giving it a slender and elegant appearance. It is highly productive, so it will need to be thinned to avoid small fruit size and the occurrence of diseases.
Its foliage consists of very large, ovate leaves, slightly hairy and greenish-brown on top, whitish-green underneath, with deeply toothed edges.
Flowering occurs in April, somewhat early, and is quite extended. For this reason, the variety is a good pollinator for other apple trees. The flowering is not susceptible to frost. The apple tree is therefore adapted to mountain cultivation. Self-sterile, the presence of apple trees that flower at the same time is necessary. The varieties 'Royal Gala', 'Reine des Reinettes', and 'Golden' are suitable.
Fruiting is quite late, starting in late September. The fruits are bi-coloured, bright red with a yellow wash, round and squat. Their firm flesh is crisp and juicy, sweet and tart. It has a sparkling mouthfeel.

These apples are particularly suitable for fresh consumption and for making compotes. They can of course be used in pastries, compotes, jams, and in savoury dishes, paired with Normandy cheeses, for example.