Apple 'Scrumptious'

Malus ‘Scrumptious’

We grow this modern English apple on the Fruit Field at Wisley, and in the Fruit Demonstration Gardens. Here, it is trained as a cordon grown on the diagonal. This is a great way to grow several different apples in a small space.

Vital statistics

Common name

Apple 'Scrumptious'

Family

Rosaceae

Height & spread

Varies according to rootstock and training

Form

Deciduous tree

Soil

Moist, well-drained fertile soil

Aspect

Full sun, sheltered

Hardiness

Hardy throughout the British Isles

Malus

Found in woodlands and thickets throughout northern regions with a moderate climate, this group of about 40 trees and shrubs are deciduous (lose their leaves in autumn and winter).

In spring they produce fragrant flowers typically 2-5cm (1in) across, usually shallowly cup-shaped and ranging in colour from white to pink. The flowers are followed by edible fruits, although some need cooking to be palatable. 

Malus is one of the parents of the cultivated apple, the name Malus is from the Greek 'melon', a word used for tree fruits with a fleshy exterior.

Crab apples are ideal for small gardens. The fruits are variable in quality and size, about 2-4cm (1in) in diameter. While usually harsh and acidic, some cultivars are quite sweet and can be eaten raw. The flavour should improve if left on the tree until after the first frost. The fruit is rich in pectin and can be used in helping other fruits to set when making jam. Pectin is said to protect the body against radiation. 

Malus ‘Scrumptious’

‘Scrumptious’ is a relatively new apple, introduced in 1980, and was awarded the AGM in 2010. It is a cross between ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Discovery’, and is best eaten straight from the tree in mid-August and September.

It is a great garden tree, with pretty blossom in spring, that is relatively frost-restistant, and fruits that develop a beautiful deep red skin as they ripen. It is self-fertile (although will benefit from a pollinating partner), thin-skinned and relatively disease-free. Its flavour is said to have good depth of flavour, sweet but not sugary.

Cultivation

• Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although partial shade is tolerated.
• Pruning requirements vary depending on how it is grown.
• Aphids, red spider mites, caterpillars, apple scab, honey fungus, canker, fireblight and mildew may cause problems.

Propagation

• Bud in late summer. Graft in late winter.

AGM

The RHS Fruit Trials Sub-Committee awarded apple ‘Scrumptious’ an Award of Garden Merit in 2010 and described it as follows:

'Regular cropper, good fruit size, attractive ornamental fruit. Good tree habit; easily managed. A good dessert apple: sweet, good flavour, crisp, juicy.'