Malus domestica 'STARKING' apple - medium late, pollination group 3
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Malus
The group of apple trees grown for their fruit (Malus domestica) is one of the most important temperate fruit crops. It is not an original species but a domesticated hybrid complex whose genome is formed mainly by M. sieversii from the Tien Shan mountains; genetic analyses show that this species accounts for up to 90 per cent of the genome of modern cultivated apples. Smaller contributions come from M. orientalis from the Caucasus region and from the European wild apple M. sylvestris, which played only a minor role in domestication. Although the genus Malus includes roughly 55 to 60 species, only a few of them had a significant influence on the origin of the domestic apple. Botanically it belongs to the family Rosaceae, together with pears, quinces and cherries.
The apple tree has been cultivated and selected by humans for thousands of years. Archaeobotanical evidence confirms its consumption as early as the Bronze Age, while the first deliberate breeding began in classical antiquity. Modern pomology developed during the 18th and 19th centuries, when the first stable cultivars known today were established. The apple is now the most widely grown fruit tree in the world, with an annual production exceeding 86 million tonnes and thousands of cultivars differing in shape, flavour, colour and ripening time. Its distribution is determined by climate: it requires 800 to 1200 hours of winter chill, which makes it a rare and expensive delicacy in subtropical and tropical regions, much as we view their mangoes or papayas. In Europe and across the temperate zone it is so familiar that we take it for granted, even though its true genetic origin lies deep in the mountains of Central Asia.
We Europeans consider apples our everyday treasure – both in flavor and in health. The well-known English proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” has its roots in 19th‑century Wales, where it originally went: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” Modern research gives this saying a surprisingly firm foundation: regular apple consumption lowers cholesterol, benefits the heart, supports a healthy gut microbiome, is associated with reduced risk of diabetes and certain cancers, strengthens the body, and aids detoxification. Polyphenols act anti‑inflammatorily, and fiber (especially pectin) regulates digestion – making the apple a true “little pharmacy in your pocket.” And at the same time, it tastes wonderful. Who doesn’t know the typical Central European apple strudel, with its oldest recipe recorded in Vienna in 1697? From an aristocratic dessert it became a symbol of homely comfort even in modest households, and although it remains one of the most beloved pastries in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, like all good things it has spread across the world and been warmly embraced. Incidentally, the abundance of fruit alleys along old country roads in our land is thanks to Empress Maria Theresa, who during her reign (1740–1780) ordered their planting. The trees were meant to provide shade and fruit for soldiers and travelers, while at the same time preventing looting and food theft in villages.
Starking is one of the most iconic apple cultivars of the twentieth century and for decades represented the very image of a perfect red apple. It originated as a natural bud mutation of Delicious, distinguished by its much deeper and more uniform colour. The fruits are medium to large, elegantly elongated and conical in shape, easily recognised by the characteristic five-pointed crown at the calyx end. The skin is smooth, firm and almost entirely covered with a rich crimson to dark red blush. Beneath it lies cream-yellow flesh that is crisp, juicy and notably sweet, with delicate honey and melon-like notes that made the Delicious family famous worldwide. Rather than relying on pronounced acidity or complex aromatics, Starking excels through purity of flavour, sweetness and visual appeal. Harvest typically takes place from late September into October, and the fruit retains its quality and attractive appearance for many weeks in storage.
The Starking apple tree is moderately to vigorously growing, forming an upright crown in its youth that gradually broadens into a wide pyramidal shape. Cropping is generally heavy and reliable, especially when the fruit load is thinned appropriately. The cultivar was discovered in 1921 by Lewis Mood in New Jersey, USA, as a natural mutation of Delicious and was introduced commercially in 1924 by the renowned Stark Brothers Nursery. From this nursery the name Starking Delicious emerged and quickly spread throughout the fruit-growing world. Starking belongs to RHS Pollination Group 4 and requires a compatible pollinator for consistent crops. Suitable pollinating partners include Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Spartan, Elstar, Gala, Braeburn, Cox's Orange Pippin and James Grieve. Its principal strengths are high productivity and exceptionally attractive fruit, although, like many members of the Delicious family, it can show some susceptibility to apple scab under less favourable growing conditions.
Last revision 11-03-2008; 20‑10‑2026
Apple trees in general are not demanding to grow. They thrive best in sunny sites with fertile loamy to sandy‑loam soils that are well‑drained and moderately moist. The optimal pH is slightly acidic to neutral. They do not tolerate permanently waterlogged soils, nor extremely dry and windy locations where fruit may drop prematurely. Young slender trees and half‑standards should be tied to a stake to ensure straight growth, while tall‑standards benefit from a firm wind‑brace for the first three years. During this period (and preferably longer) the soil above the roots should be kept clean of grass and weeds. Fertilization can be light, ideally organic, but is not essential. Pruning, on the other hand, is generally discouraged – it is an old and misguided habit of previous generations that often resulted in water sprouts and overcrowded crowns without fruit. Modern experience shows that, given the right site, apple trees shape a balanced crown on their own and bear reliably without intervention. Most cultivars are highly frost‑hardy, easily withstanding temperatures below –30 °C, so in our conditions they require no winter protection. At harvest and in storage, however, the fruit should be handled carefully, as even small bruises can shorten its keeping quality.
