The Black Diamond Apple Tree – Minneopa Orchards
Are you ready to learn about one of the most rare, forbidden, and mysterious apples that have ever been grown? The Black Diamond apple tree isn’t just your everyday apple cultivar.
Few people have ever gotten to the chance to even taste the Black Diamond apple. These apples are extremely rare and only grown in remote places in the world. Each Black Diamond apple packs as much taste as it does mystery.
Let’s explore the secret history of one of the most difficult to find apples in the world.
History of the Black Diamond Apple Tree
This wouldn’t be a very mysterious apple if it didn’t have an equally mysterious history. Because the Black Diamond apple tree is grown in remote locations of the world, not much is known about how long it has been cultivated.
This apple tree only grows in the Nyingchi region of Tibet. It said that farmers are reluctant to grow this type of apple due to the difficulty of growing the tree.
The Nyingchi region in Tibet, home of the Black Diamond apple tree.
The Black Diamond apple tree has gained a second life in our digital age. The unique bright purple to deep, nearly black color of these apples has caused them to become something of a viral sensation. You can see viral stories about these apples all over the internet.
So, what makes the Black Diamond apple so special?
Black Diamond Apple Tree Characteristics
The Black Diamond apple tree is incredibly mysterious. Because this apple tree is not widely cultivated, not much is known about growing this particular variety of apple tree. However, one thing we do know for certain is that this cultivar is a direct relative of the red delicious apple tree.
Planting Zones
If you want to know how to grow the Black Diamond apple tree, you’re going to need to be ready to do some hard work.
There are no established planting zones in the United States for this particular apple tree. If you want to brave the unknown and attempt to grow Black Diamond apples in your own yard, you want to do your best to recreate their Tibetan environment. These apples grow in a climate that barely gets above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and also rarely dips below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Size and Spacing
Because of their similarity to Red Delicious apples, Black Diamond apple trees can be expected to grow from anywhere from 12 to 25 feet tall. As with other apple trees, this means that they’re going to have a spacing equal to their height. You’ll want to make sure that these apple trees have enough room to spread out. This can work in your favor because these apple trees make a great statement piece if you can manage to grow one.
Pollination
It’s best to grow your Black Diamond apples together. This will give them their best chance at being adequately pollinated. They can also be grown nearby complimentary apple trees such as the Red Delicious and possibly even the Jonathan.
Black Diamond Apple Tree Care
Now that you’re armed with the basics of where the Black Diamond apple tree can grow, we need to talk about how to take care of this apple tree. As you might already be coming to expect, we’re dealing with another mystery here.
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Sunlight
The native habitat of the Black Diamond apple tree is very mild. As with most apple trees, we can expect the Black Diamond apple tree to do very well in full sunlight. One of the reasons why these apples turn bright purple to dark purple is due to their exposure to the sun’s UV radiation.
Watering
Owing to the mountainous climate that these apples grow in, we can expect that they’ll do well in well-draining soil. They also grow in a region of the world that is known for its heavy rainfall.
Pruning
There is some good news on the net when it comes to unraveling the mystery of the Black Diamond apple. No matter what type of apple tree you’re dealing with, how to prune the Black Diamond apple comes down to a few apple tree pruning basics.
The best time to prune your apple tree pruning is in the late winter or early spring. This is right before your apple tree will start growing new buds and begin its growth cycle for the new year. Make sure to prune for both growth, future fruiting, and to remove damaged branches.
Diseases & Care
Because the Black Diamond apple tree is not native to the United States, you need to pay close attention as this tree grows to make sure that our new environment is not causing unexpected stress and strain on this rare tree.
Pests
The same can be said about pests. There are different apple tree pests here in the United States then over in Tibet. This means that this apple tree will face different challenges when grown in North America. Keep an eye out for anything unexpected, and you should do just fine.
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Common Uses For The Black Diamond Apple
Because this particular apple cultivar is so rare, not much is known about the best ways to prepare it. However, much has been written about this apple’s unique flavor which can give us great insight into how to prepare it.
What Does The Black Diamond Apple Taste Like?
Very few people have had the luxury of tasting a Black Diamond apple. The consensus is that this apple has a bold and sweet flavor unlike any other apple. This gives us a basic plan for how we can sketch out cooking, preserving, and enjoying the Black Diamond apple.
Cooking
Sweet apples have some of the most potential when it comes to cooking. These can be used in spicy chutneys, savory recipes, and of course desserts. The Black Diamond apple’s sweet flavor means it can be a great choice for any of these sweet apple recipes.
Eating raw
Here’s where things get fascinating.
There are plenty of articles online discussing whether or not it’s safe to eat a Black Diamond apple. In fact, there are even rumors that these apples are poisonous. However, the Black Diamond apple is not only safe to eat raw, it’s also delicious.
Many plants adopt the same purplish coloring as the Black Diamond apple in order to signal that they’re poisonous. This apple’s unique coloration comes from its environment and not from any kind of poison. The Black Diamond apple is safe to eat raw. That is, if you can get your hands on one.
Canning / Freezing / Drying
If you’re able to find some Black Diamond apples or if you even started to grow your own in your yard, one of the best things that you can do is preserve them.
Just like any other sweet apple, these are going to do great with canning, freezing, and drying. If you’re looking to preserve that unique and rare Black Diamond apple taste, this is the one of the best things that you can do.
Great Recipes Using Black Diamond Apples
If you’ve ever wanted to serve a recipe that will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your guests, using Black Diamond apples is a great way to go about wowing friends and family.
These apples have a wide range of applications and can be easily substituted for any other apple recipe that calls for sweet apples. You can use Black Diamond apples to make apple chips, a spicy apple chutney, or even add them to your favorite apple salad.
It is not difficult to cook with Black Diamond apples. Getting your hands on these apples is challenge enough.
Health Benefits of the Black Diamond Apple
There are more rumors surrounding Black Diamond apples that have to do with our health. We already dispelled the rumor that he’s apples are poisonous, but we also need to dispel the rumor that these apples are more healthy than other types of apples.
Apples, in general, are very healthy foods. Adding more apples to your diet is a great way to gain more nutrients while cutting down on artificial sweeteners and processed snacks. Apples have even been shown to help improve heart health, health outcomes for people with diabetes, and help improve immune system functioning.
Just like all of its other relatives in the apple fruit world, the Black Diamond apple is also good for all of these health benefits. It is worth pointing out that this apple doesn’t have any super health benefits. While apples in general are very healthy, the Black Diamond apple is just as healthy as a Granny Smith or a Red Delicious.
Where To Buy The Black Diamond Apple Tree?
Here’s where things start to get really challenging. If you’re looking to buy a Black Diamond apple tree to grow in your yard, you are going to have to be ready to do some adventuring of your own.
These apple trees are notoriously difficult to grow, as well as inconsistent fruiting trees. This means that you probably won’t be able to find them on the most popular online retailers or in your local greenhouse. If you’re going to grow a Black Diamond apple tree, you’re going to need to start from the very beginning.
The easiest way to acquire this tree is to buy Black Diamond apple tree seeds online. There are a few online retailers that sell these rare seeds for a premium price. If you’re able to acquire some Black Diamond apple tree seeds, you can start to grow and cultivate this tree at home and see what you get. Keep in mind that when you grow an apple tree from seed, it will not be an identical copy of the tree it came from!
Check Out These Other Apple Trees You Can Buy
If you’re looking for apple trees that you can actually get, check some of these online retailers:
- Stark Bro’s
- Nature Hills Nursery
- Fast Growing Trees
Where To Buy Black Diamond Apples
Surprisingly, it might be harder to buy Black Diamond apples than it is to buy a Black Diamond apple tree.
The Black Diamond apple tree does not fruit every year. It can skip one or more years in between fruiting. These apple trees also only grow in a remote region of Tibet. On top of all of this, it takes about 7 years for a Black Diamond apple tree to be ready to bear fruit. All of this means that locating a single Black Diamond apple is going to be quite the challenge.
If you happen to find yourself in Tibet, you can buy one of these apples for about $7. International prices for these apples can go up pretty dramatically given the extreme circumstances it takes to ship them around the world. We’ve seen prices as high as $20 for a single Black Diamond apple.
Wrapping up The Black Diamond Apple Tree
If you’re ready to live a life of intrigue and mystery, attempting to grow your own Black Diamond apple tree is a great way to get started. These trees come from a remote region of the world, but also have some of the most striking and beautiful fruit out of any apple cultivar.
Growing a Black Diamond apple can be quite the challenge, but the fruits of your labors will be well worth the effort.
Excited for more apple content? Visit my apple trees page to learn more about apple planting, growing, picking, cooking, and more!
