Malus Domestica Alkmene Apple

The Malus Domestica Alkmene Apple Tree originated in Germany, in the 1930s, but it has been renamed Early Windsor Apple in the United Kingdom, in 1996. The Alkmene variety is a dessert apple cultivar that with a good crop, and the fruit it produces is considered a suitable alternative for the Cox cultivar, as it has a similar flavour. Ready for harvest in late September.

The profusion of tiny, fragranced flowers appears in the spring. The blossoms start out as pale pink, fading to a crisp white before they turn to fruit. The Apple Alkmene produces yellow-green fruit, deeply flushed with red. This variety of apple is ready for the harvest early and has crisp, juicy flesh and a rich, aromatic honey-flavour. Their taste is sweet with a slight sourness. Apart from a good yield of dessert apples, this apple is useful for its lovely decorative appearance. Its dense, green foliage turns to yellow-orange in the fall, creating a warm display of autumn colours. The natural bushy habit of the tree can be espaliered, wire-trained, or shaped like a cone to suit your preferences.

As is generally the case with apple trees, Malus Domestica Alkmene needs well-drained, loamy soil to thrive. When planting this variety, you need to prepare a hole at least 60 centimetres deep, add compost and water thoroughly.  Grow this cultivar in full sun, sheltered from frost and harsh winds that could damage the blossoms.  Apple Alkmene does not tolerate wet soils, so make sure that you provide proper drainage. As this is not a self-fertile variety, it will require a pollinator nearby to produce fruit crop. The best way to ensure an abundant harvest in the autumn is to plant a different apple tree variety in this cultivar’s proximity. In case you lack the space, you can rely on insects for pollination.

Fully hardy in the United Kingdom, Malus Domestica Alkmene is a reliable performer in the garden. Its good constitution and quality fruit production earned this cultivar the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society.

Easy to grow and to care for, Apple Alkmene requires little effort to stay healthy and in shape. It should be pruned every year, and the process will depend on the tree’s growth form. Suitable for all training forms. Maximum size of this cultivar is between 4 to 8 metres, both high and across.