Gala Apple
A very popular red apple with a distinctive yellow blush, superb flavor for fresh eating; eating apples are high maintenance and need a second pollinator; the perfect combination of accent and fruit tree, needs well-drained soil and full sun
Attracts,
Brand,
Brand,
Botanical Name,
Bulb Size,
Bulbs per Package,
Deer Resistant,
Evergreen or Deciduous,
Family,Apple
Family Name,
Bloom Time,Mid Spring
Foliage Color,Green
Genus,Malus
Genus Name,
Weather,
Days to Emerge,
Days to Maturity,
Edible,Yes
Features,
Growth Rate,Medium
Hardiness,
Hardiness Zone,5b
Harvest Season,Late Summer to Mid Fall
Landscape Uses,Accent, Shade, Orchard
Light Needs,Full Sun
Mature Height,20 feet
Mature Width,20 feet
Prune Time,Late Winter Pruning
Self Pollinating,Cultivar
Water Needs,Average to Moist
Waterwise,
Essentials for Success
For flourishing plants, use potting soil for potted plants or planting mix for garden beds paired with Root Zone starter fertilizer is the perfect duo to foster robust root growth and minimize transplant shock.
Details
Edible Qualities
Gala Apple is a small tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces large scarlet round apples (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with a yellow blush and creamy white flesh which are usually ready for picking from late summer to mid fall. The apples have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.
The apples are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Baking
- Sauces
Features
Gala Apple features showy clusters of lightly-scented white flowers with shell pink overtones along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. It has forest green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy scarlet apples with a yellow blush, which are carried in abundance from late summer to mid fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.
This is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:
- Messy
- Disease
Aside from its primary use as an edible, Gala Apple is sutiable for the following landscape applications:
- Accent
- Shade
- Orchard/Edible Landscaping
Care
Planting & Growing
Gala Apple will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.
This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
