Apple Tree - Large Pigeon

Gros Pigeonnet Apple Tree (Malus domestica 'Gros Pigeonnet')

An old and hardy French variety, the Gros Pigeonnet is an autumn apple highly prized for its sweet flavor and versatility. A local variety with a picturesque name!

🍎 Fruit description

A large apple, round and slightly flattened, with a regular shape. The skin is smooth, thin, and greenish-yellow with streaks, washed with carmine red on the side exposed to the sun. The flesh is white, tender, crisp, very juicy, and fragrant. It has a sweet, mild flavor with a light, refreshing acidity.

🥧 Usage

An excellent eating apple, perfect for fresh juice thanks to its very juicy flesh. Ideal for sweet cider where it adds sweetness and aroma. Also suitable for compotes, tarts, and fruit salads. A versatile fruit prized for its sweetness.

📅 Harvest

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

🏺 Conservation

Keeps well for 2 to 3 months in a cool, well-ventilated cellar. Best enjoyed from October to December. The flesh remains tender and juicy.

🐝 Pollination

Self-sterile variety requiring a pollinator. Good pollinators: Reine des Reinettes, Belle de Boskoop, Jacques Lebel, Reinette Clochard. Mid-season flowering. Good productivity.

🛡️ Disease resistance

Good overall disease resistance. Moderate scab resistance. Hardy and vigorous variety, well-suited to cool, damp climates. Adapts well to the conditions of western France.

📖 History

An old French variety whose exact origin remains uncertain. Traditionally cultivated in western France, particularly in Brittany and Normandy. Its name refers to the large size of the fruit. A terroir variety prized for its hardiness and productivity.

🌱 Cultivation characteristics

A tree with a spreading, upright habit. Early fruiting. Regular and abundant production. Adapts to all types of well-drained soil. Prefers sunny to partially shaded locations. An easy-to-grow variety recommended for home orchards.