Apple tree (Malus domestica) ORLIK

Apple (Malus domestica) 'Orlik'

Russian winter variety with harmonious taste and compact growth.

'Orlik' is a high-quality winter variety bred in Russia (VNIISPK) by crossing the famous 'McIntosh' and 'Bessemyanka michurinskaya' varieties. It is prized primarily for its excellent taste, which achieves high scores in tasting evaluations (4.5 out of 5). The tree has a compact habit and bears heavily, although it has a tendency towards biennial bearing. The fruits are attractive, with a distinct red blush and very juicy flesh.

Key Highlights:

• Excellent taste: Harmonious, sweet-sour with a strong aroma (heritage from McIntosh).
• High yield: A mature tree can produce 80 – 120 kg of fruit.
• Compact crown: Suitable for intensive orchards.
• Good hardiness: Suitable for colder conditions.
• Juicy, fine-grained flesh.

Origin and Registration

• Origin: Russia (All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding). Registered in 1986.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Medium vigor, the crown is compact and spherical.
• Productivity: Bears fruit on short spurs. Early onset of bearing (4th – 5th year).
• Note: Prone to biennial bearing, requiring fruit thinning to stabilize yields.

Fruit

• Size and Weight: Medium (100 – 200 g).
• Shape and Color: Slightly flattened to weakly conical. The yellow base color is densely covered with a red blush and stripes. The skin is glossy, oily, with a waxy bloom.
• Flesh: Creamy with a greenish tint, firm, fine-grained, and very juicy.
• Taste: Harmonious, refreshing, strongly aromatic.
• Usage: Universal.

Resistance and Requirements

• Resistance: Good frost resistance. Medium resistance to apple scab.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Harvest: Fruits have a tendency for pre-harvest drop, so timing the harvest correctly is important.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Second half of September.
• Storage: Good, fruits last until mid-February or early March.