The Goldparmäne is an old cultivated apple variety that was long considered one of the best table varieties with very good storage properties. Due to its requirements and the maintenance effort, however, the variety has largely disappeared, as it is uninteresting for commercial cultivation due to the high effort involved. In the garden, however, the gold parmane is a real asset, because the maintenance effort rewards you with very tasty apples.
location
Goldparmane prefers sunny locations
The choice of location is very important for the quality of the apple. The apple variety prefers a sunny location that should be protected. South-facing locations in company with other apple trees surrounding the tree are ideal. The apple variety needs a different variety for a good yield, since the Goldparmane is self-sterile. The following varieties can be planted as pollinators, for example:
- Golden Delicious
- Cox Orange
- boskoop
- Gravensteiner
- Kaiser Willhelm
Other apple varieties not only take on the task of fertilizing partners, but can also offer the gold parmane additional protection, which means that the fruit can develop better. If you only have space for a few trees in the garden, you can also use sheltered locations on the sunny house wall. The waste heat from the wall favors the ripening and the taste of the apple. It is also protected from late frost there, because this variety does not tolerate cold well, especially during the flowering period.
The soil should be loose and not compacted for the variety, but rich in nutrients. A location with lean soil is ideal, as this is usually loose enough. So that the tree has sufficient nutrients at its location, the soil is enriched with humus. In well-chosen locations, the tree can deliver its first yields after only five years.
maintenance
To cut
Regular care of this variety is essential for a good yield. Above all, the cut is important so that the tree develops many flowers. The challenge with this variety is not only the regular pruning, but also the correct removal of branches. The tree has a bushy crown, where many branches are formed, which have a strong upward habit. However, apples only develop on the outer fruit wood, which is why care must be taken to ensure that the branches at the edge have enough space.
Rejuvenate the crown of older trees
When caring for older trees, care must be taken to regularly rejuvenate the crown. The variety tends to age, which quickly leads to losses in yield. The branches of this apple variety branch only weakly, which is why it is particularly important to find a suitable leading branch. Its buds should face outwards, creating as little competition as possible for other branches.
Courage is required when rejuvenating the crown, because many prune this variety too timidly. The gold parmane tolerates and needs one, especially when she is older strong pruning in the crown area. Otherwise the competition between the branches is too great.
tip: The variety only produces fruit at the edges, so you can remove short shoots within the crown without hesitationin.
Fertilize
Enrich the soil regularly with humus
When caring for apple trees, the soil is often well supplied with humus when they are replanted, but in the long term it is hardly or not at all fertilized. However, this variety is dependent on a good supply of nutrients. A nutrient deficiency is quickly noticeable, because not only is the yield reduced, the apple itself decreases in size.
So that there is no loss of yield in the first place, part of the care should be a regular supply of nutrients. In the spring, organic fertilizer is worked in around the tree grate. Regular additions of compost, which can be incorporated several times a year, are also important. Alternatively, you can create a layer of mulch around the tree, which will bring nutrients into the soil over the long term.
notice: Apple trees are shallow-rooted, the roots of which do not go deep into the earth, but develop broadly. Therefore, do not fertilize directly at the trunk, but within a radius of several meters. There are also the fine hairy roots through which the tree absorbs water and nutrients. With age, the root system of this variety can reach a diameter of up to ten meters.
pour
High water demand
Compared to other varieties, the gold parmane has a very high water requirement. However, she tolerates it no waterlogging, whereby the risk of this is rather lower in a suitable location. You should water the tree regularly and thoroughly, especially in very dry summers. This prevents a crop failure.
winter protection
Lime regularly as winter protection
A very harsh winter can severely affect this apple variety and lead to a crop failure. To prevent this, an important care measure in autumn is liming the trunk. The white lime paint on the trunk protects the tree from strong sunlight, which is reflected by the light paint. Above all, the combination of dry but very cold and sunny winter days is an unfavorable combination for the variety. These conditions lead to stresses in the water-bearing layers, which can subsequently burst open. The white paint allows you to keep the temperature fluctuations lower, which means that the water-carrying cable tracks keep a relatively constant diameter.
notice: The lime coat not only protects the bark from bursting open, but also prevents moss and lichen from forming on the trunk. Pests are also prevented from penetrating the bark.
pest and disease control
The importance of regular care measures is shown when the tree reacts to neglect with diseases or is very susceptible to pest infestation. Regular fertilization strengthens the tree and gives pests less space to attack.
Above all, regular pruning is a very good prevention against diseases. An airy and light crown can dry faster, which means that fungal diseases, such as fruit tree canker, to which this variety is very susceptible, have significantly less chance.
storage
Long-term storage for full enjoyment
You can usually remove the apple end of September to harvest. It is one of the few varieties that develop a particularly aromatic taste only through storage. It is advisable to eat the apple only after several weeks of storage. The advantage is that the variety can be kept until spring under good storage conditions.
You should pick the apples to store them. Apples that have fallen and bruised have a significantly shorter shelf life. You should then place the fruit flat in boxes. Storage in several layers on top of each other leads to pressure points, which lead to a shorter shelf life.
As with any apple, you should store gold parmesan separately from other fruit. Storage boxes that you can keep in a cool basement are ideal for this. Temperatures around 4°C with humidity around 98% are ideal.
tip: Cellars rarely have the ideal humidity level. To compensate for this, you can place damp cloths over the apple storage boxes.