{"product_id":"gala-apple-tree","title":"Gala Apple Tree","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e\n  \/* Base Container *\/\n  .ss-split-container {\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 1400px;\n    margin: 40px auto;\n    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, \"Helvetica Neue\", Arial, sans-serif;\n    color: #444;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    font-size: 16px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Core Split Layout *\/\n  .ss-split-layout {\n    display: flex;\n    flex-wrap: wrap; \n    gap: 50px; \n    align-items: flex-start; \n  }\n\n  \/* Left Side: Description *\/\n  .ss-split-desc {\n    flex: 5.5;\n    min-width: 300px; \n  }\n\n  \/* Left Side H2 Optimization *\/\n  .ss-split-desc h2 {\n    margin: 35px 0 12px 0;\n    font-size: 1.15em; \n    color: #111;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    letter-spacing: 0.02em;\n  }\n  \n  \/* Remove top margin for the first H2 *\/\n  .ss-split-desc h2:first-of-type {\n    margin-top: 0;\n  }\n  \n  .ss-split-desc p {\n    margin: 0 0 16px 0;\n    color: #555;\n    text-align: justify; \n  }\n\n  \/* Right Side: Spec Card *\/\n  .ss-split-specs {\n    flex: 4.5;\n    min-width: 300px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Modern Card Design *\/\n  .ss-specs-card {\n    background-color: #faf9f6; \n    border-radius: 16px;       \n    padding: 35px 40px;        \n    border: 1px solid #f0f0f0; \n  }\n\n  .ss-specs-card h3 {\n    margin: 0 0 20px 0;\n    font-size: 1.1em;\n    color: #111;\n    border-bottom: 2px solid #ffa500; \/* Golden-orange border to match the Gala aesthetic *\/\n    display: inline-block;\n    padding-bottom: 5px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Clean List Structure *\/\n  .ss-spec-list {\n    list-style: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n  }\n  \n  .ss-spec-item {\n    display: flex;\n    padding: 14px 0;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.04); \n  }\n  .ss-spec-item:last-child {\n    border-bottom: none;\n  }\n\n  \/* Label Styling *\/\n  .ss-spec-label {\n    flex: 0 0 40%;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    color: #333;\n    padding-right: 15px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Value Styling *\/\n  .ss-spec-value {\n    flex: 1;\n    color: #666;\n  }\n\n  \/* Mobile Adaptation *\/\n  @media (max-width: 900px) {\n    .ss-split-layout {\n      flex-direction: column;\n      gap: 30px; \n    }\n    .ss-split-desc, .ss-split-specs {\n      flex: 1 1 100%;\n      width: 100%;\n    }\n    .ss-specs-card {\n      padding: 25px 20px;\n    }\n    .ss-spec-label {\n      flex: 0 0 35%;\n    }\n  }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"ss-split-container\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"ss-split-layout\"\u003e\n    \n    \u003cdiv class=\"ss-split-desc\"\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePremium Gala Apple Tree (Malus domestica 'Gala')\u003c\/strong\u003e is a powerhouse variety for the home orchard, widely admired for its consistent production of delicious, high-quality fruit. Its apples feature a beautiful, warm, red-and-gold striped skin and a crisp, aromatic flesh that is favored by both adults and children alike. Establishing your orchard with a \u003cstrong\u003e1-2 ft. starter tree\u003c\/strong\u003e allows you to cultivate its growth from the very beginning; by letting this starter tree adapt to your specific garden soil, you foster a resilient, deep-rooted system that supports a generous harvest of flavorful apples. This foundation is key to ensuring your tree matures into a healthy, heavy-bearing specimen that provides your household with fresh, orchard-grown bounty for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003ch2\u003eGrowth Rate \u0026amp; Habit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe Gala Apple is a moderately vigorous, upright grower that is remarkably easy to train and maintain. It develops a spreading, handsome canopy that is ideal for maximizing fruit exposure to sunlight—a key requirement for developing its signature skin color and flavor complexity. The tree is famously reliable and productive. Annual pruning during the late winter dormant period is recommended to maintain height, ensure excellent airflow, and encourage a consistent, heavy harvest of high-quality fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003ch2\u003eHarvest \u0026amp; Fruit Quality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eGala apples are celebrated for their balanced, sweet-tart flavor, crisp texture, and excellent snacking quality. The fruit is of medium size, highly aromatic, and keeps well when stored correctly. While the tree will produce some fruit on its own, Gala benefits significantly from cross-pollination. To ensure the heaviest, most consistent harvests, it is highly recommended to plant it near a compatible pollinator variety (such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003ch2\u003eWatering and Feeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eDuring the first few seasons, consistency is vital for your starter tree. Keep the root zone evenly moist during the active growing season, providing a deep, deliberate soak once a week—this is far more effective than frequent, shallow surface watering. Apply a balanced, organic fruit tree fertilizer in early spring as the buds begin to swell, providing the foundational nutrients required to support the tree’s structural growth and ensure a high-quality, abundant fruit set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003ch2\u003eLight \u0026amp; Hardiness\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eTo produce its signature flavor, place your Gala Apple tree in a location that receives full sun—aim for at least 6 to 8 hours of direct, unobstructed sunlight each day. This exposure is critical for both the tree’s overall vitality and the sugar development in the fruit. Reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5-8, this cultivar is a resilient, well-adapted performer that thrives in environments with a distinct winter dormancy period, returning with renewed, heavy-bearing energy each spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv class=\"ss-split-specs\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"ss-specs-card\"\u003e\n        \u003ch3\u003eTree Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n        \u003cul class=\"ss-spec-list\"\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eMalus domestica 'Gala'\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eGala Apple Tree\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eTree Type\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eApple \/ Starter Tree\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eShipping Size\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eApprox. 1 - 2 ft. tall (Starter Tree)\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eHarvest Season\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eLate Summer to Early Autumn\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eUpright, vigorous, spreading\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eModerate to Vigorous\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003e5 - 8\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eMature Size\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003e12 - 15 ft. tall and wide\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eSun Exposure\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eFull Sun (6-8+ hours daily)\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eWatering Needs\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eModerate (Consistent moisture)\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eSoil Type\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eRich, organic, well-draining soil\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli class=\"ss-spec-item\"\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-label\"\u003eSpecial Features\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv class=\"ss-spec-value\"\u003eClassic snacking apple; requires pollinator\u003c\/div\u003e\n          \u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003c\/ul\u003e\n      \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Soil Song","offers":[{"title":"1-2 feet","offer_id":49286553403615,"sku":"66S11-G","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/0120\/8543\/files\/gala-apple-tree-6463691.webp?v=1779515646","url":"https:\/\/mysoilsong.com\/products\/gala-apple-tree","provider":"Soil Song","version":"1.0","type":"link"}