Malus domestica 'OZARK GOLD'

Ozark Gold is a medium late apple variety developed by the Mountain Grove Experiment Station in Missouri, USA, and introduced in 1970. In its parentage it has genes of Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan and Ben Davis. All of those gave this apple a fine mixture of excellent taste which is sometimes described as honey and vanilla with a hint of pears and marzipan. The flesh is firm and crispy, rather sweet with low acidity. The fruit is oval in shape with a bright golden yellow skin, often flushed pale scarlet red tones. It matures up to 3 weeks before Golden Delicious making it suitable also for regions with shorter vegetation period.

It is self-sterile but flowers over a long period so the list of suitable pollinators is rather long. Here are at least some examples: Čistecké, Discovery, Fuji, Gala, Golden Reinette, Granny Smith, James Grieve, Jonathan, Melrose, Opal, Otava, Pinova, Red Delicious, Rubinola, Rubín, Santana, Spartan, Starking nebo Topaz. Under good storage conditions it can be kept until March.

Apple trees will grow in almost any well-drained soil but for best results provide them with deep, fertile soil and keep it moist at least 6 months after transplanting, and in early summer when fruit is formed. Pruning can be done in frost-free periods of winter but it grows best being left to its own devices. Hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).


Last update 24-10-2022