Melba
Dessert apple
Dessert apple
Malus domestica Borkh.
Raised in 1898 by W.T. Macoun at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada. Introduced in 1909. It received the Silver Wilder Medal from the American Pomological Society in 1927. Fruits have firm, crisp, white, juicy flesh with a refreshing vinous flavour. Skin is aromatic.
Availability
Material available from the National Fruit Collection.
Parentage:
McIntosh x Unknown
Mother to:
Caravel
Silva
Jamba 69
Beverly Hills
Father to:
Ranger
Pirja
Sports:
Red Melba
Hunter Melba
Fruit Size
medium b
Fruit Shape
flat to intermediate, rectangular to truncate-conic, convex b
Fruit Height
44-51 mm b
Fruit Width
57-63 mm b
Ribbing
ribbed on body and at eye b
Ground Colour
pale yellow b
Over Colour
pinkish stripes and flecks b
Flesh Colour
very white b
Skin Texture
white bloom b
Flesh Texture
firm, crisp b
Flavour
subacid, sweet b
Accession name
Melba
Flowering time
3rd May 10% flowering
8th May Full (80%) flowering
14th May 90% petal fall
Picking time
Mid August a
Size
medium a
Type
Dessert a
Shape
Flat globose a
Ribbing
weak-medium a
Crown
medium a
Ground Colour
Whitish yellow a
Over Colour
Pink a
Over Colour (Pattern)
striped/mottled a
Firmness
firm a
Crunch
crisp a
Flesh Colour
White a
References:
a. NFC fruit (undated) Unpublished characterisation by staff at NFC, Brogdale.
b. Smith, M. (1971) National Apple Register