Best Apple Varieties for Commercial Farming

Last updated: 14 Dec 2025

Best Apple Varieties for Commercial Farming: A 10-Year Field Review

The first and most dangerous decision in apple farming is choosing the variety. In my 10 years of orchard management, I have seen farmers lose lakhs simply because they planted a “High Altitude” variety in a low-altitude valley. The tree grew, but the fruit never turned red.

You can change fertilizers next year, but you cannot change the tree once it is in the ground. Based on trials in Himachal, Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, here is my honest, field-tested guide to profitable apple varieties.

Table of Contents

• 1. The Golden Rule: Altitude Matters
• 2. The Royal Delicious Group
• 3. High-Color Spur Varieties
• 4. The Gala Series
• 5. Golden & Granny Smith (Pollinators)
• 6. Quick Comparison Chart
• 7. Common Selection Mistakes

Fig 1: A healthy cluster of Super Chief Sandidge ready for harvest.

1. The Golden Rule: Altitude Matters

Color comes from cold nights.

If you're in the lower belt (3,500–5,000 ft), standard Royal Delicious will stay green. You must plant high-color spur varieties.

2. The Royal Delicious Group

• Best For: Above 6,000 ft
• Pros: Large fruit, strong tree vigor, long storage
• Cons: Slow fruiting, poor color in warm valleys

3. High-Color Spur Varieties (Current Trend)

A. Super Chief (Sandidge)

Beautiful red stripes, fetches ₹200-300 extra per box vs Royal.

B. Scarlet Spur II

Deep solid red. Colors early — great for hail-prone areas.

C. Jeromine / Red Velox

Turns dark black-red. Market premium due to uniform color.

4. The Gala Series (Early Cash Flow)

• Varieties: Red Lum Gala, Dark Baron Gala
• Advantage: Gives early-season money (July/Aug)
• Warning: Must sell within 2 weeks — low shelf life

5. Golden & Granny Smith (Mandatory 33%)

Apple trees need cross-pollination.

• Golden: Best universal pollinator
• Granny Smith: High demand, long shelf life
• Ratio: 25–33 pollinators per 100 trees

6. Quick Comparison Chart

Category	Strains	Ideal Altitude	Harvest Time
Standard Delicious	Royal Delicious	6,000 ft +	Late Sept
Spur (Striped)	Super Chief, Oregon Spur	4,500 – 6,000 ft	Mid Sept
Spur (Solid)	Scarlet Spur II, Jeromine	3,500 ft +	Early Sept
Early Season	Gala Series	Any Altitude	July–August
Late Season	Fuji (Aztec/Kiku)	Mid–High	October

7. Common Selection Mistakes

1. Following the herd blindly
2. Ignoring pollination needs
3. Mixing early and late varieties in one block

Conclusion

There is no universal “best variety”—only the best variety for your altitude.

My recommendation for beginners:

• 60% Spur varieties
• 20% Gala (early money)
• 20% Golden/Granny (pollinators)

Also Read: Soil Preparation and Land Management

References & Sources:

• ICAR-CITH – Variety Catalogue

• Horticulture Dept HP – Approved Varieties

• SKUAST Kashmir – HDP Guidelines

[Tajamul Islam] 10+ Years Experience

I am an orchardist experimenting with traditional and HD apple varieties across Indian climates.