The orchard's first harvest. Every year.
Gala is the world's most widely planted apple variety and for good reason. It delivers a reliable, high-colour early crop that enters the market before competition, commanding premium shelf positioning. Zeebaran's certified Gala planting material comes from virus-indexed mother blocks and is propagated to strict clonal standards.
Variety Profile
- Origin
- New Zealand
- Local Name
- Royal Gala
- Season
- Early (August – September)
- Colour
- Red-orange striped over yellow-green background
- Flavour
- Sweet with mild tartness, honey-like aroma
- Sugar Content
- 12 – 14 °Bx
- Firmness
- 7 – 8 kg/cm²
- Ambient Shelf Life
- 3 – 4 weeks ambient
- CA Storage Life
- 6 – 7 months CA
- Market Class
- Domestic retail & institutional supply
Why Growers Choose It
- Earliest commercial harvest window in J&K — market access by mid-August
- High red-colour expression (Royal Gala strains) meets export colour grading
- Reliable annual bearing, low biennial bearing tendency
- Excellent consumer acceptance across all Indian market segments
- Compatible with all Zeebaran cold-chain and CA storage infrastructure
Agronomy Notes
Gala performs best on M9 and M26 rootstocks in high-density planting systems. It requires good calcium nutrition during cell division stage (40–60 days after full bloom) to prevent bitter pit. Thinning is critical — target 1 fruit per spur at 25–30 mm fruitlet stage. Gala is susceptible to scab and powdery mildew; a structured spray programme is essential.
WhatsApp Inquiry Console
Opens WhatsApp with your variety and rootstock selected.
Rootstock options for Gala
- Spacing:
- 1.0 – 1.5 m × 3.5 m
Industry benchmark for HDO orchards. Requires permanent support structure. Favoured for premium export blocks.
- Spacing:
- 1.5 – 2.0 m × 3.5 m
Moderate anchorage. Good choice for growers transitioning from traditional to intensive systems.
- Spacing:
- 2.5 – 3.5 m × 4.5 m
Deeper rooting, better drought tolerance. Suitable for sloped terrain and rain-fed plots.
- Spacing:
- 2.0 – 2.5 m × 4.0 m
Reliable performer in J&K conditions. Good for farmers upgrading from traditional orchards.
Prefer a detailed conversation? Use our inquiry form for a written response from our horticultural team.
