Boskoop Apple Tree

Belle de Boskoop apple tree (Malus domestica 'Belle de Boskoop')

An old and hardy Dutch variety, Belle de Boskoop is a winter apple highly prized for its characteristic tart flavor and versatility. A must-try for lovers of distinctive apples!

🍎 Fruit description

Large apple, irregularly rounded and bumpy. The skin is rough, thick, greenish-yellow, largely washed with reddish-brown, and streaked. The flesh is creamy-white, firm, crisp, very juicy, and fragrant. It has a pronounced tart flavor with a hint of sweetness, making it very refreshing and aromatic.

🥧 Usage

An excellent cooking apple, ideal for tarts, compotes, fritters, and jellies thanks to its firm flesh that holds its shape well during cooking. A good eating apple for those who enjoy acidity. Perfect for juice and dry cider, where it adds structure and character. It lends itself well to all culinary preparations.

📅 Harvest

October to November. Harvesting takes place when the fruit detaches easily from the tree. The harvest is generally abundant and regular.

🏺 Conservation

Excellent storage life of 4 to 6 months in a cool, well-ventilated cellar. Best enjoyed from November to April. The apple improves with age and the acidity softens slightly.

🐝 Pollination

Self-sterile variety requiring a pollinator. Good pollinators: Reine des Reinettes, Jacques Lebel, Reinette Clochard, Cox Orange. Mid-season to late flowering. Excellent productivity.

🛡️ Disease resistance

Good overall disease resistance. Moderate resistance to scab and canker. A very hardy and vigorous variety, well-suited to cool, damp climates. Tolerates poor soils and challenging exposures.

📖 History

Obtained around 1856 in Boskoop, Netherlands, through accidental sowing. Introduced to France at the end of the 19th century. Widely cultivated in Europe for its hardiness and versatility. A benchmark variety for tart apples, highly prized in cooking and for making characterful cider.

🌱 Cultivation characteristics

A very vigorous tree with a spreading, upright habit. It bears fruit quickly and produces a very abundant and consistent crop. It adapts to all soil types, even poor ones. Prefers a sunny to partially shaded location. An easy-to-grow variety recommended for home orchards.