Apple tree (Malus domestica) BAIBA

Columnar Apple (Malus domestica) Baiba

A popular Latvian columnar variety with frost-hardy and tasty fruits.

'Baiba' is a popular Latvian columnar apple variety, prized for its high frost hardiness and its tasty, well-storing fruits. The tree has medium-strong growth, comes into bearing early, and is very productive, although with a tendency towards biennial bearing. The fruits are medium to large, an attractive yellow color with bright red stripes. The flesh is soft, creamy, very juicy, and aromatic, with a delicious sweet-tart flavor. The variety has good resistance to diseases.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Columnar growth: Ideal for small gardens, patios, or for growing in rows.
• Very good frost hardiness: Reliable even in colder climates.
• Excellent taste: The fruits are delicious, sweet-tart, aromatic, and very juicy.
• Attractive fruits: Beautiful yellow-and-red striped fruits.
• Early entry into bearing and high productivity.
• Good disease resistance.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Latvia
• Institution: LVAI (Latvian State Institute of Fruit-Growing)
• Breeder: R. Dumbravs
• Cross: KV-35 × ‘Doch Melby’
• Year of registration: Registered and protected in Latvia since 2009.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

Growth is columnar, medium-strong to vigorous, with weak branching. It comes into bearing early and is very productive, but it has a tendency towards biennial bearing (fruiting every other year). The flowers are frost-resistant. It is cross-pollinated.

Fruit

• Size: Medium to large.
• Shape: Round.
• Appearance: Attractive, with a yellow base color and bright red stripes.
• Flesh: Soft, creamy, very juicy.
• Taste: Excellent, sweet-tart, aromatic.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: The variety has very good frost hardiness.
• Scab: Good to medium resistance.
• Powdery Mildew: Good resistance.
• Canker: Has not been observed.

Growing Recommendations

• Suitability: Recommended for home gardens, especially in colder regions.
• Rootstock: Medium-vigor rootstocks (e.g., MM106) are recommended. On dwarf rootstocks, a stake is advised because the trunk is relatively thin and may not support a heavy crop.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: First half of September.
• Storability: Good.
• Transportability: Good.