Elstar apple is a winter variety of Dutch selection, obtained as a result of crossing Golden Delicious and Ingrid Maria varieties. The tree is medium-sized or below average in size, with a widely oval crown, reaching a height of up to 2.7 meters on the M9 rootstock. The variety is early-yielding, beginning to bear fruit on wood not older than three years, which requires regular annual pruning and summer pinching to maintain high yield and prevent fruit overload. Elstar prefers sunny, open areas with dry, non-flooded soil and needs pollinators such as Idared, Delicious, and Gala. Elstar apple fruits have a rounded-conic shape and weigh an average of about 130 grams, but can reach up to 200 grams depending on care conditions. The main fruit color is yellow with a bright red, widely striped blush that covers most of the surface, predominantly on the side of the stem. The skin is smooth and shiny. The flesh is white with a slight lemon tint, characterized by tenderness, crisp texture, and a balanced flavor with a slight tartness and honey aroma, making the apples especially tasty and pleasant to eat fresh, including in children's desserts. The Elstar variety is characterized by high yield and good marketability of fruits, which makes it in demand both for personal consumption and industrial cultivation. However, frost resistance and disease resistance of this variety are average, especially it is susceptible to powdery mildew, which requires careful care and preventive measures. Overall, Elstar is a variety with medium cultivation complexity, which, with proper care and conditions, can delight with a stable and high-quality harvest.
