Apples
Words: Graham Rice
Choosing the right apple for your garden can be a tricky business. It may be clear in your mind that you want an eating apple or a cooking apple – or perhaps one that serves both purposes. There are other features to consider, however all require a second selection as a pollinator (flowering groups are noted).
The rootstock on which they are grafted will dictate the eventual size of the tree or its suitability for growth as a cordon. When choosing trees, a succession of ripening times is useful.
These apples range from almost 300 years old to just 30 years old and while others may be widely grown commercially. The RHS Award of Garden Merit goes only to the best selections for home gardens.
‘Blenheim Orange’
Bred around 1740, ‘Blenheim Orange’ is still valued by the home gardener. It is a genuine dual purpose eater/cooker and is resistant to mildew. The large orange-yellow fruits with their sweet yet nutty flavour, are ready from October to January. As a triploid (two other pollinators are required), it may have a tendency to fruit like a biennial though less so when grown on a dwarfing rootstock. Group 3.
‘Bramley’s Seedling’
An enduring favourite but perhaps not the ideal small garden apple. These large green fruits with red flushed are splendid for pies, make excellent puree and feature a fine combination of rich fruitiness and acidity. The trees can reach a large size unless grafted on a dwarfing rootstock and the bright pink flowers produce no pollen so need two pollinators – one to pollinate the ‘Bramley’s Seedling’, and one to pollinate the pollinator. Lasts from November to March. Group 3.
‘Discovery’
An ideal eating apple for home gardeners and said to be the very best of the early types. ‘Discovery’ has green fruits flushed almost entirely in bright red, with chewy flesh which is sweet and juicy. It crops heavily and reliably, keeps very well, produces plenty of pollen to pollinate other selections. It is strong but compact in its growth and also resistant to mildew and scab. This apple is a hybrid between two earlier favourites, ‘Worcester Pearmain’ and ‘Beauty of Bath’. Group 3.
‘Egremont Russet’
The classic accompaniment to Cheddar cheese, the fruits of ‘Egremont Russet’ are ready from October to December. Apples are golden brown in colour with an even pale russetting, while its flesh is slightly greenish with a rich nutty flavour. Originating in the early 19th century, it retains its popularity partly because it is an upright tree, grows well as a cordon and produces plenty of spurs. Also resistant to scab, mildew and canker. Group 2.
‘Falstaff’
A fine eating apple discovered during the 1970s and raised at what was then the government funded East Malling Research Station in Kent. ‘Falstaff’ is a hybrid between ‘James Grieve’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ so it should be good. The yellowish fruits have red stripes and the flesh is crisp and juicy. Apples ripen in October and can be kept until Christmas. This selection crops very well but makes a modest sized tree. It is good pollinator and is partly self-fertile. Group 3.
‘Fiesta’
A superb selection for the home gardener and considered a superior alternative to ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ (although the fruits are larger). It crops well when young, sets fruit in cool springs and yields almost twice as much as a Cox. Fruits can be stored from October into January and beyond. It is a good pollinator and is even partially self-fertile. Need I say more? Another from East Malling. Group 3.
‘Greensleeves’
A fine eating apple, dependably setting a good crop even when young. Pollinates other selections for an unusually long peiod. Yellowish green fruits ripen to produce a light pink flush from early October until well into November. The flesh is crisp creamy, sweet and juicy. Neat in habit, spurs are produced well and are resistant to scab. Another East Malling type derived from ‘James Grieve’ and ‘Golden Delicious’. Group 3.
‘James Grieve’
This dual purpose apple is especially suited to the home gardener as its yellow flesh is juicy and full or flavour. Unfortunately the fruits are easily damaged so it is now rarely grown commercially. The flowers are deep pink and white, making a very pretty floral display, and it pollinates other apples well. Best as an eater in September and October but is a tasty cooker when picked early. Resistant to mildew and especially good in the north of the country. Group 3.
‘Lane’s Prince Albert’
A fine cooker bred during the 1840s. Large fruit (but not as big as Bramley) store well right through until early spring. Green fruits are striped in red on the sunny side; the soft juicy flesh initially tastes fairly acid, but sweetens over the months. The flesh does not break up when cooked and is sweet enough to eat fresh in the New Year. Relatively slow growing so not suitable for most dwarfing rootstocks. Group 3.
‘Sunset’
Another selection derived from ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’. The aromatic, greenish yellow fruits mature almost to orange with a little russet speckling. The firm flesh is crisp and white. ‘Sunset’ is in season from October to December, makes a relatively small tree and does well in the north of the country. With its relatively upright growth it’s ideal for home gardens especially as it’s much easier to grow than Cox, and also resistant to scab. Group 3.