Melba†
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Melba†
Origin / History
Melba† is a McIntosh seedling introduced by the Central Experimental Farms, Ottawa.
Tree
Melba† is an early and annual bearer.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large.
Form: Not described in source.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Ground color waxy yellow. Overlying color a bright, striped crimson.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: White, mildly subacid, crisp, tender, pleasantly aromatic, and fine textured. Quality high.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Melba† ripens in mid-August, at about the same time as Early McIntosh. Ripening extends over 10 to 14 days. The fruit drops easily when nearly ripe. It bruises easily if not picked and handled at the proper maturity.
Uses
Melba† is desirable for home orchards and roadside markets, owing to its extended ripening period of 10 to 14 days.
Subtypes / Variants
Several red-colored sports of Melba† are being tested. Red Melba has similar if not identical characteristics to Melba†, but is a few days later in maturity.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— Quentin B. Zielinski, Apple Varieties for Oregon (1964)Melba†
Melba is a McIntosh seedling introduced by the Central Experimental Farms, Ottawa. Fruit is medium to large, high quality, ripening in mid-August at about the same time as Early McIntosh. Skin color is a bright, striped crimson over a waxy yellow ground color. Flesh is white, mildly subacid, crisp, tender, pleasantly aromatic, and fine textured. Fruit bruises easily if not picked and handled at the proper maturity. Ripening extends over 10 to 14 days, which makes this variety desirable for home orchards and roadside markets. It is an early and annual bearer. The fruit drops easily when nearly ripe. Several red-colored sports of Melba are being tested. Red Melba has similar if not identical characteristics to Melba, but is a few days later in maturity.