Gala Dark Baron® is a premium, intensely coloured Gala mutation selected for growers who need reliable colour in every season. Its deep red‑purple finish, early colouring, and uniform coverage make it a strong performer in warm sites, valley floors, and plains.
Enquire About Dark Baron
Tree Characteristics
- Vigour: Medium–weak
- Growth Habit: Manageable, balanced canopy
- Flowering: 2–3 days before Golden Delicious
- Productivity: High and consistent
- Alternate Bearing: Not observed
- Site Suitability: Performs well in warm regions and lower elevations
Grower note: Dark Baron® is well suited to orchards where traditional Gala strains struggle to colour.
Fruit Characteristics
- Colour: Deep cherry red, typically reaching full surface coverage
- Colour Timing: Early; begins colouring well before harvest
- Finish: Stable and uniform, even in warm seasons
- Shape: Typical Gala, round to slightly elongated
- Stalk: Red, matching the fruit
- Eating Quality: Standard Gala profile
Harvest & Storage
- Harvest Window: Early Gala timing
- Picking: One to two picks depending on site
- Storability: Comparable to standard Gala; suitable for short–medium storage programs
Grower note: Early colour allows flexibility in harvest scheduling and access to early‑market premiums.
Performance & Management
- Packout: Strong due to uniform colour and coverage
- Thinning: Standard Gala management
- Cropping: Reliable annual production
- Canopy Management: Moderate vigour makes it easy to maintain light penetration
- Pest & Disease: No unique sensitivities reported beyond standard Gala considerations
Market Advantages
- Premium appearance with deep, uniform colour
- Reliable colouring in warm sites and challenging seasons
- Strong retail appeal for premium programs
- Early colour development supports early‑market opportunities
Ideal For
- Growers in warm regions or valley floors
- Orchards seeking a dependable, high‑colour Gala
- Programs targeting premium retail presentation
- Blocks where other Gala strains fail to colour consistently