The apple is one of the most popular and well-known types of fruit in this country. But not all apples are the same. The list of varieties seems endless. Because there are over 30,000 different apple varieties worldwide. In the supermarkets, however, you hardly notice it. Less than 10 common varieties have established themselves commercially. Including the variety 'Jonagold'. It is one of the most popular varieties. And not without reason: we have researched and compiled various experiences with the 'Jonagold' variety for you.
Apple variety 'Jonagold'
The variety of this cultivated apple is one of the most commonly cultivated apples in Europe. Jonagold was bred in the USA in 1943 from the two varieties 'Golden Delicious' and 'Jonathan'. Since 1968 it has also arrived in the European trade and has been loved by everyone ever since. This variety is also found in the garden of many hobby gardeners. We have made use of their experience and would like to share it with you. Based on the reports, you can form your own opinion about Jonagold.
experiences
notice: For reasons of better legibility, small spelling mistakes (spaces, transposed letters, etc.) in the quotations have been corrected. The exact sources are linked under the indication of the respective forum.
maintenance
Are you looking for a suitable apple tree variety for the garden? Of course, proper care is important. Get an overview of the care experiences of other Jonagold owners.
"Jonagold likes it warm with deep and nutrient-rich soil. If these conditions are met and the tall and slender growth is not a problem, then one can try it, provided a pollinator is available nearby. There is an increased risk of frost."
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Rhoener55, 03/16/2011
"[… ] The Jonagold and its mother variety Golden Delicious are first-class varieties for the somewhat drier and warmer regions, and since we have a wine-growing climate and calcareous soil here, they also fit in very well here."
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 08/24/2014
“[…] If you want sweet, juicy fruit/apples (Jonagold) then only a sunny location can come into question. […]"
Source: www.green-24.de, user: Niklas, 07.10.2007
“[…] On good soil you can also grow a Jonagold, Jonagored, Jonica or their mother variety, the Golden Delicious. They have […] healthy branch wood, beautiful shoots, do not overgrow and are not overly susceptible to diseases. But as it is, large varieties that mature later need a rather mild climate in addition to a good supply of nutrients.”
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: Desperado, 15.10.2007
"[… ] So that Jonagold does not sprout too much (growing strongly), it should have as many blossoms and fruits as possible. So only cut away one-year-old shoots if possible. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Frank, 08/28/2007
“[… ] However, Jonagold also has fruit sizes that are satisfactory on poorer soils. As a tree it is unproblematic. Relatively vigorous, needs annual pruning. And the fruits should be harvested in time, if they fall of their own accord they are already too ripe and will become soft and banana-like in storage. I think that's also the secret of the better taste of our own Jonagold. They are more mature. That's why it can't be stored for long. […]"
Source: www.forum.garten-pur.de, user: cydorian, 19.10.2007
“[… ] Regardless, like most, this strain needs to be thinned out. This prevents branches from breaking and the fruits become more beautiful. For this purpose, the fruit hanging is cut out with thin scissors at the end of June in such a way that about 1 apple per fruit cluster remains. The distance from fruit to fruit should be about 30 cm [… ]. If the fertilization is very bad, you can do without it or leave more. […]"
Source: www.forum.mein-schoener-garten.de, user: neo, 09/27/2007
“[… ] I also have a Jonagold. In the 4th year and may let 10 fruits ripen this season. About 20 fruit buds were removed in spring because the tree is still too young for larger quantities.”
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Rumbleteazer, 08/31/2018
"[… ] Let the apples - if there are any attached - ripen well (from the end of September). The Jonagold needs a bit of pruning so that enough sun gets to the fruits and they color well, but it is still quite easy to cultivate.”
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 03/31/2016
fruit
Of course, taste is one of the main selection criteria for your own apple tree in the garden. Tastes are known to differ. With its red skin, the Jonagold is one of the sweeter apple varieties. Does the variety also suit your taste? Based on the experiences of various hobby gardeners, you can form your own opinion about the fruit.
"I personally like Jonagold very much, it has good taste! […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: turtlefriend, 04.10.2016
“The Jonagold is also my personal taste favourite. I've also often refined it."
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: Wini, 03/26/2016
“I find Jonagold boring [… ]”
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Pepino, 08/18/2011
“[… ] The skin is quite coarse and waxy, but they are still relatively crisp.
Peeled still good to eat. I'm quite surprised how long they last. […]"Source: www.forum.garten-pur.de, user: Waldgärtner, 04/14/2017
"[… ] If the Jonagold is spoiled by the sun, as was the case last year, it can deliver first-class qualities with a lot of sweetness (have more sugar than the early-picked ones from the supermarket) and a fine, fruity acidity. If you use the fruit to make an apple strudel or a covered apple pie, you no longer need any additional sugar. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 03/31/2016
"[… ] A Jonagold grows 300 - 400 cm high over the years, depending on the location and pruning."
Source: www.chefkoch.de, user: katir, 06/12/2017
“The Jonagold itself is visually rather inconspicuous and looks like any apple on the meadow orchard. Only the taste makes the difference.
If you want a red colored apple of this variety, you have to take a Red Jonaprince (mutant). It's almost completely dark red. But there are many other mutants of this variety"Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 03/31/2016
“[… ] For baking (strudel, apple turnovers, etc.) I actually prefer a Golden Delicious or a Jonagold because they are more sweet and fruity. I don't need to sweeten it anymore. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 07/12/2014
“[… ] The Jonagold inspired me last year [… ] because it was really tasty. The apples were nicely uniform medium-large. […]"
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: Crazy Horse, 03/23/2016
“I have had good experiences with Jonagold on a rootstock that grows faster. The variety forms a wax layer and can therefore be stored for a long time and does not dry out so quickly. […]"
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: Wini, 03/22/2016
“[… ] I would like to break a lance for Jonagold. 2011 great yield, great taste […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: berggeschrey, 03/02/2012
"I'm still a fan of good old Jonagold because it's comparatively unproblematic and here in our wine-growing climate it always produces very good fruit quality and can be stored for a long time. It can also be used universally in the kitchen - apple strudel, apple turnovers, apple cakes, and it also has more sweetness and can be stored longer than, for example, a red Boskoop. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 03/21/2016
“[… ] not all fruits ripen at the same time, the ripe ones are picked first, the others only ripen a short time later. Experience has shown that the fruits on the sunny side are the first to be picked and those that only get shade last. […]"
Source: www.forum.mein-schoener-garten.de, user: Yersenia, 08/16/2011
robustness
Jonagold is often referred to as a scab-prone variety. But how robust is the variety actually? Are there other problems with the apple? Here you can find out what experiences other apple lovers have had with the variety.
“[… ] Except for a bit of moth infestation, which stays within limits, no particular abnormalities. However, on permeable soil. And that should already be with Jonagold. Otherwise you have to reckon with cancer on heavier soils. […]"
Source: www.forum.garten-pur.de, user: Zuccalmaglio, 10/18/2007
“I have experience with Jonagold at two different locations and am surprised at how robust and trouble-free it is. The apples from the cool location (500m, cool hollow) taste even better to me. You could definitely try Jonagold if you like this type of apple. The biggest problem for me is the feeding of birds and wasps. Birds peck the apples massively, wasps eat holes. […]"
Source: www.forum.garten-pur.de, user: cydorian, 10/18/2007
"Well, Jonagold and Golden, Cox are among the varieties most susceptible to scab […]"
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: kruemel, 03/22/2016
"Your apples have scab on them. Unfortunately, this is nothing abnormal, because Jonagold is very susceptible to this fungal disease. In bad weather you will always have scabs. [… ] I don't think Jonagold (like Elstar and many others) is a good home garden strain if you don't want to spray. Organic farms can do that better anyway. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: tihei, 03.10.2016
"My Jonagold tends to scab easily. However, this is not a problem, as you can usually eat the apples because they are not poisonous. Maybe cut something out.”
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: thomash, 03/31/2016
“[…] the Jonagold variety is also not a good choice in my opinion. Like all descendants of the parent strain Jonathan, very susceptible to powdery mildew. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: franz01, 03/01/2014
“[… ] Jonagold is not exactly the least sensitive apple variety. Scab makes the apples look unsuitable as table fruit - you can still dry the apples or process them into apple puree or juice. Do not neglect hygiene measures in the garden (i.e. remove leaves in autumn and do not leave them there until they have rotted)."
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Rhoener55, 07/13/2012
“[… ] I found Jonagold to be surprisingly robust and definitely suitable for extensive cultivation. However, the yields are not high and the bird problem is serious. Sweet varieties are picked massively here and that's it with the harvest. […]"
Source: www.forum.garten-pur.de, user: cydorian, 12.10.2007
“I also have two Jonagolds and a Golden Delicious in the garden (as a bush), plus a Cox Orange for pollen (half-stem) and I've never had any major problems with scab or mildew. […]"
Source: www.hausgarten.net, user: Desperado, 08/24/2014
"[… ] I don't think the Jonagold is particularly susceptible to scab [… ], but that also depends on the location."
Source: www.landtreff.de, user: Crazy Horse, 03/23/2016
harvest time
Harvesting at the right time is extremely important. In addition to the taste, it also influences the shelf life of the apple. But not all apples are the same, and so the different harvest times differ from variety to variety. Once you have decided on the popular Jonagold, it is then a matter of finding the perfect time for the harvest.
apple maturity classes
Basically, a distinction is made between three ripeness classes when apples are harvested:
- summer apples
- autumn apples
- winter apples
summer apples
- Harvest time from mid-July to late August
- sour and juicy
- hardly storable
autumn apples
- Harvest time from mid-September to late October
- good storage ability
winter apples
- Harvest time from October - November
- long shelf life
- Ready for consumption only after storage of 1-2 months
However, the harvest periods can also change slightly from time to time. Depending on the weather, however, the harvest can also be postponed a few weeks forward or backward. However, the transition between autumn and winter apples is usually smooth. However, winter apples are not immediately ready for consumption. Their final maturity only develops after a certain storage period.
Harvest & Storage
The Jonagold apple is one of the typical autumn apples. The popular fruits can be harvested from the end of September to the end of October. The variety can still be stored for a very long time.
tip: To harvest the apple, bend and twist the apple stalk. If the apple can be easily removed, it is ripe. By "twisting" the apples, you prevent damage to the existing bud. Because this is already in the starting blocks for the next harvest.
Jonagold develops its aroma best from the end of October and with good storage conditions, it can be kept and enjoyed until June. Over the storage period, it develops more and more sweetness, which is why it is well suited for baking. But it is also used for raw consumption. How to best store Jonagold:
- in a dark, cool, well-ventilated room
- A frost-free basement is ideal
- at high humidity
- side by side in wooden crates or cartons
- Place the apples with the stem down
- should not touch