Galaval®

Origin

Galaval is a natural, stable Galaxy mutant. The variety discovered in New Zealand

Tree

Moderate vigour, depending on the rootstock Forms flower buds on one-, two-, and three-year-old shoots Growth habit typical of Gala varieties

Flowering and pollination

Blooms one month before Golden Delicious Good pollinators: Fuji, Golden Delicious, Idared, and other varieties with the same flowering period

Fruit Characteristics

Not prone to biennial bearing. Fruits annually and abundantly, enters fruiting quickly.

Fruit

Large to medium-sized fruit (65–80 mm), round and slightly flattened. Intense dark purple-red colouration covers nearly 100% of the skin, making striping less visible. The fruit is firm and aromatic, with sweet and juicy flesh.

Harvesting

Galaval fruit reaches harvest maturity one month before Golden Delicious, around the same time as other Gala sports.

Health and Disease Resistance

Susceptible to apple scab and bacterial canker, but no more than other Gala sports.

Storage

Excellent storage properties. Maintains high firmness after cool storage, can be stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA) until late April.

Suitability

One of the best-coloured Gala sports. Highly recommended for regions with challenging growing conditions. Intense red-burgundy blush covers the fruit even under hail nets. Very stable variety.