Royal gala apple: characteristics, cultivation and care

Today we are going to talk about a type of apple that is in high demand globally for its characteristics and flavor. It’s about the royal apple gala. It is a type of apple with a deep red hue on its stem and a color that varies from yellow to almost orange with deep orange stripes on a greenish-yellow background. It has a very sweet taste and is aromatic and juicy. These characteristics make it a highly demanded apple around the world.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about the royal gala apple and its cultivation.

Key features

It is a type of dense apple, with a sweet taste, quite aromatic and juicy. It has a rounded shape that fits perfectly in the hand since the size is medium to small. The meat is white and we want something. The taste is sweet but not too strong. It has just enough acidity to create a nice contrast of flavors. It is one of the varieties of apple that, over time, it has become the most common in the markets.

They can be eaten in many ways. It can be consumed fresh, included in salads or used to cook in pastries. It is one of the apple varieties most commonly used to make sauces. However, it is necessary to highlight a characteristic of the royal gala apple with respect to others and that is that it has its sweet touch when cooked. This is the reason why it is not highly recommended to cook it and it is more palatable to consume raw.

Royal gala apple requirements

We are going to talk about the requirements that the royal gala apple needs for its cultivation. We know that apple trees are more characteristic of cold climates, although they do well in somewhat warmer and more temperate climates. They are very resistant trees because they are able to withstand some adverse environmental conditions or even soils with high salinity. To have an apple tree in good condition we must water it with abundant water until the moment it begins to take its roots. From here, does not need hardly any watering. And it is that depending on the area where we live, rainwater may be enough. This tree is able to withstand periods of drought very well.

The apple tree of the royal gala apple is a deciduous tree that belongs to the Rosaceae family. If it grows in good conditions, it can grow up to 12 meters high.. However, in cultivation it is much lower since it facilitates the harvesting of its fruits. Trees less than 2 meters tall are often planted to facilitate cultivation and harvesting. If we get to the tree to grow in a natural state and we cannot present a rounded and open crown with numerous branches that are arranged almost horizontally.

As for its leaves, they are oval in shape and have teeth on the edges. They have a white color and the reverse of the leaf is pubescent. The apple tree can develop in different environmental conditions. It does not need a specific soil to be able to develop, but it is capable of growing in different conditions of acidity and fertility. Whatever the case and the type of soil where it is going to be sown, the fundamental thing is that the land has good drainage. Drainage is the filtering capacity of water by the soil. Thanks to good drainage, irrigation or rain water does not accumulate. For this reason, it is essential that the water can filter the soil well so that there are no puddles that can rot the roots of the apple tree.

One of the most recommended aspects for the correct care of the apple tree is to protect it from the wind. Wind in frost can cause some damage to leaves and branches. Here you also have to take into account the location of the apple tree. We must place the apple tree in a location where the wind does not hurt it too much.

Royal gala apple cultivation

Let’s see now what are the guidelines to carry out to grow the royal gala apple. As we have mentioned before, the apple tree can be grown in temperate climates since it can adapt to conditions of low temperatures and somewhat warmer summers. However, we must know that apples that have a thicker size are only obtained in areas that have a warmer summer and irrigated crops. They are usually multiplied using the grafting and cuttings technique. In this way, its reproduction is greatly accelerated. The seeds are very difficult to reproduce on their own.

The apple tree requires a prior thinning to be carried out when the fruits are the size of a hazelnut. If the fruits are not clarified well, during the following season, the production will be very low. Pollination is carried out with insects and occurs in the period of continuous rains.

These apples are varieties and colors that combine yellow and red. Currently those that have a more intense red color are the ones that are usually the most purchased. The color of the skin has nothing to do with the organoleptic quality, but they are more visually attractive.

Plagues and diseases

One aspect to take into account for the proper development and growth of the royal gala apple is the control of pests and diseases. And it is that the apple tree can be very susceptible to the attack of numerous types of fungi and bacteria in addition to some insect pests. Let’s see what are the main pests and diseases that affect the royal gala apple:

• Mildew: the individual is a fungus characterized by the powdery gray spots that come on the leaves. Such spots can also be found on the buds well the flowers. Eligio is one of the fungi that attack most of all crops. To avoid this, it is necessary to reduce the humidity conditions.
• Aphids: acids are commonly called aphids. There are several species that attack apple trees and are also tower and other diseases. Most of the diseases transmitted by aphids reduce the vigor of the trees and decrease the production.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the royal gala apple, its characteristics and its cultivation.