How to Grow Red Flesh Apple Redlove
Wikimedia Commons
Red Flesh Apple Redlove
Malus domestica 'Redlove'
treeRedlove is a distinctive apple cultivar with deep red flesh throughout, offering striking visual appeal and a unique tart-sweet flavor profile. This medium-sized tree produces fruit with red skin and red interior, making it ideal for fresh eating, juice, and ornamental purposes. The tree is relatively compact and suited to home gardens and smaller landscapes.
When should you plant Red Flesh Apple Redlove in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Red Flesh Apple Redlove timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Red Flesh Apple Redlove
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Red Flesh Apple Redlove
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Flesh Apple Redlove dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-8, with best performance in zones 5-7
Sign up free to see if Red Flesh Apple Redlove grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Red Flesh Apple Redlove timeline →Growth Stages
Dormancy (Winter)
December-FebruaryBare branches with no leaves; tree is at rest. Buds are tightly closed.
Dormant season pruning in late winter. Apply dormant oil spray to prevent pest overwintering. No watering needed.
Bloom (Spring)
3-4 weeks (typically April-May)Pink and white flower clusters emerge from buds along branches. Flowers are attractive and fragrant.
Do not fertilize during bloom. Ensure pollinator activity by avoiding pesticides. Monitor for frost damage if late freezes occur.
Fruit Development (Late Spring-Early Summer)
6-8 weeksSmall green fruit clusters appear where flowers were. Fruit gradually enlarges; natural fruit thinning occurs.
Thin fruit to 1 apple per spur cluster when fist-sized. Thin to 6-8 inches apart for optimal size. Increase watering during this critical stage.
Maturation (Summer-Early Fall)
8-10 weeksFruit develops full size and characteristic red coloring inside and out. Tree foliage remains lush green.
Maintain consistent watering. Apply light fertilizer in mid-summer if needed. Monitor for pests and disease. Support heavy branches with props if needed.
Harvest & Dormancy Preparation (Fall)
4-6 weeksFruit reaches full color and maturity. Leaves begin to yellow and drop as tree enters dormancy.
Harvest when fruit easily separates from branch. Do not leave overripe fruit on tree. Rake fallen leaves to prevent disease.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Use red sticky spheres hung in tree canopy. Remove infected fruit immediately. Apply spinosad or neem oil spray in mid-summer.
-
Remove mummified fruit from tree and ground. Pheromone traps to monitor. Spinosad or kaolin clay sprays during egg-laying periods.
-
Dormant oil spray in late winter. Horticultural oil in spring. Remove heavily infested branches.
-
Hand-pick early morning. Use netting to protect fruit. Insecticidal soap for severe infestations.
-
Ensure good air circulation through pruning. Sulfur dust or neem oil spray. Remove infected leaves promptly.
-
Remove nearby juniper/cedar host plants if possible. Fungicide spray in spring. Remove galls from alternate hosts.
Uses
Fresh Eating & Salads
CulinaryThe tart-sweet flavor and striking red flesh make Redlove apples excellent for fresh eating, slicing into salads for visual impact, and serving as a conversation piece at the table. The firm texture resists browning, making it ideal for prepared dishes. [source]
Juice & Cider
CulinaryRedlove apples produce visually stunning red juice and cider with a balanced flavor profile. The anthocyanin content creates natural deep red coloring without additives. [source]
Antioxidant Content
MedicinalRed-fleshed apples are rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols, compounds with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds contribute to the fruit's nutritional value and the vivid red coloring. [source]
Landscape & Garden Feature
OrnamentalRedlove trees serve dual purposes as productive fruit trees and attractive landscape specimens, with pink spring blossoms and colorful autumn foliage. The unique red-fleshed fruit is a striking focal point. [source]
Pollinator & Wildlife Support
WildlifeApple blossoms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in spring. Fall fruit provides forage for birds and wildlife during migration and preparation for winter. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when apples are fully colored (deep red exterior and flesh) and have developed full sweetness, typically September-October. Use the 'twist and lift' method—a ripe apple should separate easily from the branch. Store in cool conditions (32-40°F) for extended shelf life (up to 4 months). For best flavor when fresh eating, refrigerate before eating.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Redlove apples were developed in Switzerland and represent a breakthrough in breeding red-fleshed apples with superior taste and color, as most earlier red-fleshed varieties were ornamental or had poor flavor.
- 🌱 The red coloring in the flesh is due to anthocyanin pigments (the same compounds that color red wine and blueberries), which means the entire apple—skin and flesh—provides antioxidant benefits when eaten.
- 🌱 Despite their dramatic appearance, Redlove apples require cross-pollination from a compatible apple variety (ideally another modern cultivar or crabapple) to produce abundant fruit, so companion planting is essential.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Red Flesh Apple Redlove planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Red Flesh Apple Redlove seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Red Flesh Apple Redlove timeline →