Coloradona is a medium-vigor, very upright tree that blooms early. It is susceptible to scab and mildew. Ripening time is mid-October in NY state, and this tree has a tendency to biennialism. Coloradona is used mainly in cider production in Spain, but it is also suitable for fresh eating.

This is an Asturian cider (sidra) apple, approved by The Regulatory Council of Origin Cider of Asturias. The fruit is a small, dark red apple with creamy flesh that yields a bittersweet (dulce-amargo) juice (pH ~ 4.4; TA ~ 2 g/L; tannins ~ 2.2 g/L). (The traditional Spanish cider apple classifications are ácido, semiácido, dulce, amargo, ácido-amargo, amargo-ácido semiácido-amargo, amargo-semiácido, dulce-amargo.)

Spanish cider apples have not yet been widely tested in the United States, but the native climate of these apples should be taken into consideration. Asturias enjoys abundant year-round rainfall, mild summers, and temperate winters. Costal winter temperatures are typically in the 50s and summer temperatures are in the 70s.

Fruit photographed at Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg, NY.