The Flagship apple variety is a winter variety featuring large, uniform fruits characterized by a correct rounded-flat shape and an average weight of about 180 grams, with a maximum weight reaching up to 285 grams. The skin is smooth, dry, and glossy, primarily greenish-yellow with a medium-intensity brownish-red covering. The flesh is yellowish, dense, fine-grained, juicy, and has a sour-sweet taste with a pleasant aroma, providing the apples with a very good flavor. The fruits ripen for the winter season and can be stored from November to March, allowing them to be used both fresh and for preparing various products, including juices, compotes, jams, jellies, and even fruit wines and cider.
The Flagship variety tree is distinguished by its large size and an oval crown of medium density with straight, sparsely located branches and smooth gray bark. The leaves are elongated, egg-shaped with a finely serrated edge and delicate venation; the flowers are pinkish and fragrant. Fruiting begins on the fifth year after planting and is characterized by high productivity without biennial bearing. Fruits form on simple and compound ringed shoots, as well as on spurs. The variety possesses high winter hardiness and monogenic resistance to scab controlled by the Rvi6 (Vf) gene, which significantly reduces the risk of diseases and increases cultivation reliability.
Flagship has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2009 and is recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region. In addition to high productivity, the variety is distinguished by its high sugar content, vitamin C, and soluble dry matter, as well as a significant level of R-active catechins, making the fruits not only tasty but also beneficial. Due to its qualities and resistance, the Flagship apple tree is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a stable and high-quality harvest of winter apples.
