Apple farming
Söderlångvik’s apple orchards consist of approximately 38,000 apple trees. Most of the cultivations are on Tolfsnäs Farm on the northern part of Kimito Island. Some of the trees are in the immediate vicinity of Söderlångvik Manor, which creates a special environment. During the flowering period at the turn of May–June, the landscape is transformed into a fairytale land. When the harvest ripens in autumn, the orchards are an unforgettable sight.
The apples are picked by hand. The work begins in mid-August, and the harvesting finishes in October. The apples are stored in modern low-oxygen warehouses at Tolfsnäs Farm. With this storage method, the apples can be stored until the following spring.
Apples that are not suitable for selling due to colour or shape are pressed into must or made into jam.
To ensure that the apple trees get pollinated, the manor has about 40 beehives. The honey and the other products are sold in the manor’s restaurant Amos Krog, café Glassgaraget at the Manor and with some retailers.
Apple varieties
Söderlångvik Manor cultivates several apple varieties that have been selected to suit the estate’s location, growing conditions and storage requirements. Each variety has its own characteristics in terms of flavour, ripening time and recommended use. The range includes early season apples as well as varieties suitable for longer storage.
Overview of the varieties grown at the manor:
AMOROSA
- Winter apple that thrives in the Finnish climate.
- Aromatic flavour with a fine balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Juicy and pleasant to eat fresh; also suitable as a general-purpose apple.
- Stores well.
AROMA
- Winter apple.
- The flavour is aromatic and slightly spicy. A true delicacy apple.
- The flesh is yellowish white, firm and sweet‑tart.
- Excellent for eating fresh, also suitable for cooking and jam.
ASFARI
- Very good as a fresh-eating apple and also suitable for desserts.
- Firm and juicy flesh with a sweet‑tart and delicate flavour.
DISCOVERY
- A very popular autumn apple and considered a delicacy variety.
- Stores for about a week.
- A sweeter flavour profile with hints of strawberry.
- Crisp, juicy and aromatic flesh.
- Excellent for fresh eating; can also be used for baking, applesauce, salads and desserts.
LOBO
- Winter apple. A traditional Christmas apple.
- Well‑known and appreciated for its mild taste, soft flesh and juiciness.
- Primarily a fresh‑eating apple. Not ideal as a cooking apple due to its low acidity.
RAJKA
- Best enjoyed fresh.
- A winter apple with good storage qualities and also an excellent Christmas apple.
- Intense, sweet flavour with a hint of honey.
RED TOPAZ
- Winter apple.
- Flavour is slightly sweet‑tart.
- The flesh is juicy, firm and crisp.
RUBIN
- Winter apple.
- A tart and aromatic variety.
- Crisp and juicy flesh.
RUBINOLA
- Winter apple.
- Aromatic and sweet flavour with balanced acidity.
- Crisp and juicy fruit.
- Excellent for fresh eating; also suitable for desserts and baking.
- Contains exceptionally high levels of vitamin C.
SANTANA
- Winter apple, known to be more suitable for people with apple allergies.
- Fresh, full and sweet‑tart flavour.
- Juicy flesh.
- An excellent dessert apple, also suitable for baking and salads.
Söderlångvik’s bees
As long as there have been apple orchards, there have also been bee farms at Söderlångvik Manor. Bees are of great importance to the apple harvest. The main job of the manor’s bees is to pollinate the apple blossoms. Some years, the flowering period is very short, and it is almost entirely the responsibility of the bees that the pollination is successful. A sufficient amount of bees helps yield a larger apple harvest and a better quality of apples.
The manor’s bees live in two different apple orchards in bee pavilions. The bee pavilions can be seen as you walk past the apple orchards. In addition, about half of the beehives are lightweight beehives, which are located at a slightly greater distance from the apple orchards. In the spring, these lightweight beehives are placed in the apple orchards to facilitate pollination.
You can buy honey produced by Söderlångvik Manor’s own bees in the direct sales at Glassgaraget, at restaurant Amos Krog, and in Helsinki at the Amos Rex museum shop.
