Prima

Prima originates from the USA, where it was developed in 1958. as part of the renowned joint breeding program of three American universities, Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois, known as PRI, and was released into wide production in 1970. In the history of world pomology, it is recorded as the first commercial apple variety in the world that has near immunity to apple scab. Due to the high vitality of the tree, early ripening, and excellent refreshing qualities of the fruit, it is a leading and irreplaceable variety for organic, ecological, and amateur production.

It is a fully cross-pollinated, self-sterile variety. It cannot set fruit with its own pollen. The best and field-proven pollinators for this variety are Gala, Idared, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith. It flowers medium-early, abundantly, and over a long period.

The tree is moderately vigorous to vigorous, with a semi-spreading, wide, and moderately dense canopy supported by strong scaffold branches with excellent branch angles. It enters the fruiting stage very early, often setting its first fruit as early as the second year after planting. Once it starts bearing, it produces regular, stable, and exceptionally high yields. It responds very well to standard pruning and requires chemical or hand thinning of the fruit in early summer in order to prevent fruit size reduction.

It belongs to the group of early summer apple varieties. In our region and under continental climatic conditions, it ripens very early, in early to mid-August, usually between August 5 and 15, a few days before Mitchgla Gala.

Harvesting takes place during the first half of August. Since the fruit ripens gradually on the tree, harvesting in the orchard is carried out selectively, in 2 to 3 passes, choosing only ideally colored fruit.

Its storage ability is moderate, which is standard for all summer apple varieties. In standard cold storage, it successfully retains firmness and freshness for 3 to a maximum of 4 weeks, around one month. Due to its more delicate flesh, the fruit is less suitable for long storage and rough mechanical sizing, so it must be placed on the market shortly after harvest, before the flesh loses moisture and becomes mealy. It tolerates careful transport in shallow crates well. It is primarily a premium table variety for early fresh consumption, and it is excellent for home processing, first summer jams, and juices.

The fruit is medium-sized to large, with an average weight of 150–190 g, and has a regular round to slightly roundish-conical and symmetrical shape. The skin is thin, smooth, and glossy, slightly greasy at harvest. The yellow-green ground color is covered over more than 60–80% of the fruit surface by an attractive, glossy light red to bright red blush and overcolor on the sun-exposed side. The flesh is creamy-white to pale yellowish, moderately firm, compact, exceptionally juicy, and melting. The taste is outstanding and refreshing, characterized by a perfect, pronounced sweet-acidic balance and a beautiful, delicate, and recognizable fruity aroma.

It is characterized by phenomenal genetic resistance to apple scab on leaves and fruit, Venturia inaequalis, thanks to the Vf gene, which dramatically reduces the need for fungicide use in the field. It shows moderate susceptibility to powdery mildew, Podosphaera leucotricha, and fire blight, so minimal, targeted, and preventive chemical protection is required. It tolerates winter frosts and low temperatures during dormancy very well.

Our apple fruit trees are produced on highly compatible and certified rootstocks: M9, M9 T337, the Dutch standard for intensive high-density orchards with a support system, M26, for medium-density orchards on poorer soils, and MM106, an exceptional rootstock for this variety in home gardens and organic eco-orchards without a support system.