Braeburn Apple

Malus domestica 'Braeburn'

fruit

Braeburn is the crisp sweet-tart apple discovered as a chance seedling in New Zealand in 1952, with a refreshing balance of acidity and sugar that carries spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus. The variety holds its shape under heat, which is why Braeburn is the chef-preferred apple for pies, tarts, and baked dishes that need apple chunks to stay intact.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Chives — Repels aphids and may suppress apple scab
• Comfrey — Chop-and-drop mulch returns potassium to surface roots
• White Clover — Orchard-floor nitrogen fixer
• Yarrow — Hosts beneficial parasitic wasps

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Apple scab →

  Rake fallen leaves, prune for airflow; sulfur in wet years

• Codling moth →

  Pheromone traps, bag fruit, pick up drops

• Fire blight →

  Avoid heavy nitrogen; prune blighted shoots 12 in below cankers and disinfect tools

• Plum curculio →

  Kaolin clay at petal fall; collect early drops

🌾 Harvest & storage

Braeburn ripens in late October in the Northern Hemisphere (mid-March to early April in New Zealand). The orange-red blush deepens against a yellow-green background as fruit matures. Pick when the seeds inside are dark brown and the fruit gives a slight twist-and-lift release from the spur. Refrigerate near 33F; properly stored Braeburn keeps 3 to 4 months without softening.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

About 52 calories per 100 g with 2.4 g fiber, 5 mg vitamin C, and 107 mg potassium. Braeburns higher acidity slows the blood-sugar response compared to sweeter dessert apples, and the variety holds its vitamin C better than most through extended storage.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Eat the flesh, not the seeds. Apple and pear seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanide-releasing compound. Swallowing a seed or two is harmless, but do not deliberately eat or crush the seeds or cores in quantity.