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Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Spacing: 12-15'
- Exposure: Full Sun
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Rubinette Apple
This Tree is not available for Sale at this time through Bower & Branch. Bower & Branch provides this information for reference only. Please check back with us or contact us for more detail.
We'll be blunt: Rubinette is not an easy Apple to grow. It's slow and sulky, it's susceptible to a disease called Apple scab, and the fruits will be small unless they're properly thinned. But OMG, the flavor! If you're up for a challenge, you could potentially be harvesting one of the greatest Apple varieties the world has ever known. Juicy, crisp, aromatic, and perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, Rubinette is everything an Apple was meant to be. Add this treasure to your backyard orchard, and you may soon enjoy sublime snacking. You won't find Rubinette at the supermarket, so you'll have to grow your own!
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Spacing: 12-15'
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Show more ›
The Story
A Swiss nurseryman named Walter Hauenstein developed Rubinette in the 1960s. To improve upon the beloved Golden Delicious, he crossed it with England's favorite apple, Cox's Orange Pippin. The result, Rubinette, tastes much like the scrumptious Cox's Orange Pippin (some say it tastes even better!), but it has proved to be a better keeper. Rubinette is a gourmet apple that you may find at a posh Paris market, but you'll rarely see it anywhere in this country. Since its introduction to the U.S. in 1987, it has been passed over by growers in favor of more easily mass-produced selections.
The Details
The Cox's Orange Pippin is a crisp, juicy, delectable apple with a complex flavor and a perfect sweet-tart tang. Unfortunately, the Tree hates hot climates, and it typically succeeds in the mildest coastal regions within the U.S. Rubinette, with Cox's Orange Pippin as one parent, gives you that same incredible flavor, but it adapts to a greater range of climates.
How to Grow
In general, Apple Trees are easy to grow, but getting a big harvest of unblemished fruit can be a real challenge, as there are several pests and diseases that find Apples like Rubinette as tasty as we do. There are many steps you can take, however, to protect your Tree in effective but responsible ways. Our Growers are happy to help you find the best plan for you; contact them anytime at grower@bowerandbranch.com. Practicing good culture and hygiene will go a long way towards keeping your Tree strong and healthy. Plant your Rubinette Apple Tree in full sun in a site with well-drained soil and good air circulation. Water regularly and mulch to keep the root zone cool and evenly moist. And always promptly remove and destroy any diseased branches, leaves, or fruit.
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Questions & Answers
Q: How large will my Rubinette Apple Tree be when mature?
A: We grow Rubinette Apples on a semi-dwarfing rootstock (S-M7). This will give you an apple that will grow 12-15’ in height and width before pruning to form. You can expect a substantial harvest in 3 to 5 years using this rootstock, or about 3 years after planted at your home.
Q: Do I need another variety of Apple Tree in order to get fruit on my Rubinette Apple?
A: Rubinette has a few fantastic options when it comes to a partner Apple Tree - they are: Braeburn, Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun and Empire.
Unfortunately, two Rubinette Apples will not pollinate each other - a different variety is needed.
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