HRMN-99 Hot Climate Grafted Apple Plant

The HRMN-99 (Hariman-99) is a revolutionary "low-chill" apple variety developed by Shri Hariman Sharma, a farmer from Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. It is specifically designed to grow in tropical, subtropical, and plain regions where traditional apples—which usually require cold winters—cannot survive.

1. Key Characteristics
The defining feature of HRMN-99 is its adaptability to high temperatures.

Climate Resilience: It can thrive in temperatures as high as 40–45°C.

Low Chilling Requirement: Unlike traditional varieties that need 1,000+ chilling hours (below 7°C), HRMN-99 requires very few chilling hours to set fruit.

Self-Pollinating: It does not strictly require a second variety nearby for pollination, making it ideal for small home gardens.

Growth Habit: It is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching about 10–15 feet. It can also be grown in large containers (100-liter drums) for terrace gardening.

2. Fruit Quality
Appearance: The apples are medium to large with a yellowish-red skin (often red-striped over a yellow base).

Taste: The flavor is sweet with a balanced hint of tartness. The flesh is white, crunchy, and juicy.

Shelf Life: This is its primary drawback; the fruit has a relatively short shelf life of about 10–12 days at room temperature.

3. Cultivation and Yield
Harvesting Season: One of its biggest advantages is early maturity. It typically flowers in January and is ready for harvest in early June, which is earlier than most traditional apples.

Fruiting Time: Grafted saplings usually start bearing fruit within 3 years of planting.

Yield: A mature tree (7–10 years old) can produce approximately 1 quintal (100 kg) of fruit per season.

Disease Resistance: It is notably resistant to Apple Scab, a common fungal disease that plagues many other varieties.