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How to Grow Redlove Smitten Apple

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Redlove Smitten Apple

Malus domestica 'Redlove Smitten'

tree

Redlove Smitten is a modern apple cultivar bred in Switzerland, renowned for its deep red flesh throughout the fruit and attractive pink blossoms. The tree produces medium-sized apples with a sweet-tart flavor and stunning interior coloration, making it both ornamental and productive. This variety is a cross between Gala and a red-fleshed wild apple, inheriting its unique color from anthocyanin pigments.

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Example Redlove Smitten Apple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Redlove Smitten Apple

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Redlove Smitten Apple

    Late summer into fall

    Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Redlove Smitten Apple dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours daily, preferably 8+ hours for best fruit color and flavor
💧
Water: Regular watering during first 2 years to establish deep roots. Mature trees need 1-2 inches per week during growing season, more during dry spells. Consistent moisture during fruit development prevents splitting and cracking.
📏
Spacing: 240 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 1095-1460 days (3-4 years to first significant crop; full production at 5-6 years)
🌱
Planting depth: Same depth as root ball; graft union should be 2-3 inches above ground to prevent scion rooting

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with good organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Compost or aged manure at planting Peat moss or coconut coir for water retention Sulfur if pH is above 6.8 Boron and zinc for fruit quality

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 4-8, with best performance in zones 5-7

4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

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Growth Stages

1

Establishment

Year 1-2

Young tree focuses on root development and branch structure with minimal fruiting

Stake for support, water deeply and regularly, prune to establish strong central leader, remove early flowers to redirect energy to growth

2

Pre-Flowering

Year 2-3

Tree develops robust branching framework and begins flower bud formation in late summer

Prune to open canopy for light penetration, apply dormant oil in late winter, avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Pink blossoms appear in spring (April-May in most zones), requiring pollination for fruit set

Provide bee-friendly environment, thin blossoms if too dense, protect from late frosts, cross-pollinate with compatible varieties like Gala or Pinova

4

Fruiting & Development

June-August

Small apple fruitlets develop from pollinated flowers, gradually increasing in size throughout summer

Thin fruits to 6-8 inches apart for larger, better-colored apples, maintain consistent watering, monitor for pests and diseases, apply summer pruning to increase sunlight to developing fruit

5

Ripening & Harvest

August-September

Apples develop deep red color with red-fleshed interior, becoming sweeter as starch converts to sugar

Reduce watering slightly to concentrate sugars, harvest when background color shifts from green to yellow, monitor for overripeness

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Gala apple Pinova apple Honeycrisp apple Flowering crab apple (pollinator) Borage (attracts pollinators) Clover (nitrogen fixation) Comfrey (dynamic accumulator)

Avoid planting near:

Walnut trees (juglone toxicity) Eucalyptus Grass (direct competition for water and nutrients) Other apples with same bloom time but incompatible pollination groups

Common Pests

  • Remove fallen fruit, use pheromone traps, apply kaolin clay or neem oil in early summer, consider grafting resistant rootstocks

  • Hang sticky red sphere traps in June-July, remove infested fruit promptly, destroy fallen apples

  • Hand-pick in early morning, use pheromone traps away from tree, apply spinosad if severe, encourage parasitic wasps

  • Spray strong water stream to dislodge, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings

  • Apply sulfur dust in early season, use horticultural oil, maintain good air circulation, avoid excessive nitrogen

  • Apply horticultural oil in dormant season, prune heavily infested branches, encourage beneficial insects

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and visual appeal

Culinary

The striking red flesh makes Redlove Smitten spectacular in fresh fruit salads, sliced for desserts, and whole fruit presentations. The sweet-tart flavor suits snacking, cheese boards, and salads where appearance enhances the dish. [source]

💊

Antioxidant and heart health benefits

Medicinal

The red flesh indicates high levels of anthocyanins and polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants linked to cardiovascular health and reduced inflammation. Regular consumption may support heart health and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. [source]

🍳

Juice and cider production

Culinary

The colorful flesh creates visually striking fresh-pressed juice with a natural pink hue and balanced sweet-tart profile ideal for both still juice and hard cider production. [source]

🏠

Ornamental and landscape value

Household

Beyond fruit production, Redlove Smitten is prized as an ornamental tree with attractive pink spring blossoms and deep green foliage, making it suitable for decorative plantings and small homesteads. [source]

🎨

Food photography and artistic presentation

Craft

The unique red-fleshed interior makes these apples highly photogenic and popular for food styling, culinary photography, and artistic food presentations where visual appeal is paramount. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Redlove Smitten apples mature in late August to September. Pick when the background color shifts from green to yellow and the fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure. Taste a sample apple to confirm sweetness. Apples continue to ripen slightly after harvest. Store at 32-40°F in high humidity for several months. Handle gently to avoid bruising the attractive red flesh.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Redlove Smitten was developed by Swiss breeder Markus Kobelt at the Agroscope research institute and combines Gala apple's flavor with red-fleshed genetics from wild Malus sieversii relatives, creating the startling interior coloration.
  • 🌱 The red flesh is not a dye but results from anthocyanin pigments—the same compounds that make blueberries and red wine beneficial for health—distributed throughout the entire apple rather than just the skin.
  • 🌱 When cut open, Redlove Smitten apples display such vibrant interior coloring that they were initially marketed as novelty apples, but they've gained respect among serious growers for consistent quality, disease resistance, and reliable production.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Full Sun Pollination
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