Belle de Boskoop is a well-regarded 19th century apple, from the town of Boskoop in the Netherlands, and still grown commercially on a small scale in Europe.
It is a classic long-storing dual-purpose apple, versatile in the kitchen, and good for eating fresh if you like a sharper apple.
The relatively large apples are variable in colour, usually green with orange or red flushes and some russeting. The pink and white spring blossom is pretty.
Next deliveries: December 2024 - February 2025
Belle de Boskoop is a vigorous-growing tree, with good disease-resistance, and producing large apples - typical of a triploid variety. It is therefore very easy to grow, but whilst it is readily pollinated by most other mid-bloom apple varieties, it will not cross-pollinate with them.
The only real disadvantage of Belle de Boskoop is that it can be slow to come into bearing, particularly on the more vigorous rootstocks. However once it starts, cropping is generally good and regular, and it has the potential to be a long-lived tree.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2022.