Apple Tree Temptation - Georges Delbard

The Tentation® Delblush Apple Tree is an excellent variety that bears fruit quickly. Productive, it offers an abundant and regular harvest. Its fruits, large in size, are picked in September and early October. Their golden yellow skin tinged with orange encloses a crunchy, juicy flesh that develops a perfectly balanced flavor between sweet and tart. Equally appreciated as a table apple and a cooking apple, it keeps very well, until March. The Tentation Apple is a French selection from the Delbard nurseries. It is the result of a cross-breeding between two superb varieties: Golden Delicious and Blushing Golden.

Hardy, the Tentation® Apple Tree can withstand temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F) and blooms in May. It is not a self-fertile variety, so in the garden, it should be planted near apple trees that bloom at the same time, such as 'Royal Gala', 'Reinette Clochard', or 'Reine des Reinettes', to ensure pollination.

The apple tree (Malus domestica) is a fruit tree that belongs to the rose family. It is cultivated almost everywhere in the world and includes countless varieties, both ancient and modern, that produce apples of varying sizes and flavors, ranging from sweet to tart. Apple trees are native to Europe, including France, where their presence has been documented since ancient times. Very hardy, the 'Belle Fille de Salins' variety easily withstands temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F) and blooms very late, usually in mid-May, which protects its flowers from late frosts. It is a disease-resistant variety, particularly suited to cold climates and mountainous regions. This apple tree is not self-fertile, so to ensure abundant fruit production, it should be planted near varieties that bloom at the same time.

The domestic apple tree does not exceed ten meters in height, with nearly the same width. However, its size can be much smaller depending on the vigor of the rootstock used. This fruit tree typically has a high trunk that naturally spreads out. It comes in different forms (bush, half-standard, standard) and can be trained in various ways (columnar, cordon, espalier). Apple tree leaves are deciduous and arranged alternately on the branches. Their lamina is ovate and toothed. They have a dark green upper surface and a whitish, slightly fuzzy lower surface. In spring, the apple tree bears white or pinkish-white flowers grouped in corymbs. The apple flowers consist of 5 petals, surrounding a core composed of about 20 stamens. They give rise to fleshy, spherical fruits filled with pips. Their color, size, flavor, and storage duration vary depending on the variety.

Apple trees can be grown in all climates, but they particularly thrive in temperate regions, preferably humid, such as Normandy. They prefer full sun and reasonably moist, fertile soil. Traditionally, they are planted in the heart of an orchard but can also be grown as standalone trees or even hedges. They are easy fruit trees that require at least some pruning. Proper pruning will prevent alternate bearing (fruiting every other year). An annual or biennial application of well-decomposed compost also promotes apple tree productivity. Apples are harvested in late summer and autumn and can sometimes be stored for a long period in a cellar and consumed until early spring. Apples can be used in a wide variety of culinary preparations (compotes, pies, jellies), but they can also be used to make apple juice or cider.

This fruit tree is delivered in a "ready-to-plant" rootball. During planting, the rootball should be planted as is. The biodegradable tontine that surrounds the rootball and preserves the rootlets will decompose on its own as the plant grows. By doing so, you ensure better establishment.