Generalities:

The Annurca apple plant is certainly one of the most beneficial qualities, and it is no coincidence that it also obtained the PGI denomination. If you think it is a type of winter apple, even Christmas, you will be surprised to know that the harvest is done in the autumn, while its consumption lasts until the beginning of summer. The Annurca apple is the "queen of apples", for its nutritional and organoleptic properties, the annurca apple is the only Italian apple originating from the south, precisely from Campania, where the crops are concentrated in a particular way in the Neapolitan area, Caserta and Benevento . Its characteristic name derives from "orcula apple", the first denomination of the fruit, from the Roman era, (then later orcola, anorcola and annorcola), deriving from the area of ​​Campania origin, the so-called Orc area. Medium-small in size, therefore smaller than the larger apples typical of northern Italy, the annurca apple is characterized by a slightly flattened rounded shape, smooth and waxy skin and a bright and bright red color, tinged with orange towards the petiole. The white pulp is compact, crunchy, juicy and very fragrant, with a very aromatic flavor.

Cultivation and Care:

For the cultivation of apples, the most favorable territories for growth and production are the hilly and mountain ones. The soil must be rich in organic matter, not excessively calcareous and well drained. The temperature in most cases is not a problem, the apple tree in fact manages to withstand well even at particularly low temperatures. The exposure of the apple tree can be in full sun, however it must be a place not subject to strong gusts of wind. The small-bearing varieties can be planted at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other, the rows should be spaced from 3 to 3.5 meters. The plants can be equipped with braces for the first years of their growth, then it will be possible to remove the support and let the plant grow freely, which at that point will have reached a correct position. The fertilization will be done at the time of planting, for each hole 2-3 kg of mature manure will be inserted. In the following spring, about 100 g of ammonium sulphate will have to be integrated for each plant. Every year at the end of the winter period a predominantly nitrogen fertilization should be administered, approximately 60 g of ammonium sulphate for each square meter of cultivation, every two years it is also advisable to carry out a fertilization of phosphorus and potassium, to be distributed slightly moving the soil on the surface and trying to distribute it evenly as much as possible.