Apple Varieties Available for Grafting
Any of the varieties below can be grafted in late winter to order. Trees will be propagated on organic MM106 rootstock and grown on in organic compost as a potted tree.
Adam’s Pearmain
Victorian cultivar. Pick mid October, keep until February/March. Fruit is medium, conical 'pearmain' shape. Skin is russetted red over green/brown base. Flesh is dry, aromatic.
Allen's Everlasting
Beauty of Bath
Mid-August. Traditionally, the first apple available at the start of the season. Small/medium fruit, attractive red stripes over green/yellow base. Flavour is distinct, pleasant but not always very sweet.
Beauty of Moray
Pick mid September, keep until November. Pale green/yellow round fruit, smooth skinned, medium to large size. Cooks to a sharp, strongly flavoured puree. Healthy and reliable. Recommended
Bloody Ploughman
Mid-late September. Dark, crimson apple with distinctive ribbed shape. Can suffer from superficial scab damage to skin.
Flesh is white, crisp, juicy. Flesh can be tinted pink when fully ripe (like the others on this list, it will ripen in the fruit bowl).
Bramley
Well-known, and deservedly so. One of the very few Victorian apples still in large-scale commercial production. We have found it to be a reasonably reliable cropper, producing medium crops of the characteristically large green fruit (heavily crimson flushed in our conditions). Fruit does often suffer from scab, which can look unsightly but does not affect the flesh. Pick early October, keep until April.
Cambusnethan Pippin
An old variety, probably pre-Victorian. Pick late September, keeps until early January. Fruit is medium, flat with a very distinctive large 'eye'. Skin is crimson streaked on a green/yellow base. Flesh is white, flavoursome, rather sharp. Skin tends to crack around stalk, but does not affect keeping qualities noticeably. Cropping is not often heavy, but fairly regular.
Carlisle Codlin
Probably pre-Victorian, but at any rate known since 1830. Fruit is yellow/green, round and with sin that becomes greasy in storage. Flesh is transluscent white, with an unusually good flavour when cooked carefully. For us, in our trials, this variety has been disappointing with low yields and irregular cropping!
Cevaal
Modern apple, bred for disease resistance in organic systems. Flavour is sweet and quite conventional. We have not found it to be as disease resistant as we hoped - scab and canker mainly.
Christmas Pearmain
Pick late October, keeps until January/February. A healthy, quite vigorous tree, but prone to produce large crops of rather small fruit. Fruit is red over green base, lightly russetted. Elongated fruit, crisp, juicy flesh. Very distinct flavour, not especially sweet but delicious and refreshing.
Cockermouth Codlin’
A chance seedling, found growing in a hedgerow just outside Cockermouth in West Cumbria. Similar colour to Keswick Codling, and same distinctive ribbed appearance, but rounder in shape. Also flowers later and ready for picking in early October. Flesh is pure white, soft and juicy. Flavour has been described as ‘like eating cider’! Regular and reliable cropper. Keeps until January. Recommended.
Cockle Pippin
Pick mid October, keeps until March. Medium to large fruit, yellow/green with russet patches. Like many late apples, flesh is firm and aromatic. Pre-Victorian variety.
Cornish Aromatic
October to December. Medium apple, red flush and faint red stripes over gold. Firm fleshed with sweet- sharp, pear-drop quality, almost spicy. In some seasons benefits from thinning. Blossom is most attractive.
Coul Blush
Famous as being Britain's most Northerly variety, this apple was raised near Coul, in Ross, in the early 19th century. We have grown this variety for many years and have found it a vigorous, healthy tree with regular crops of medium-large fruit, Pick mid-late September, keeps until November. Skin is green/yellow and smooth. Flesh is white, crisp, refreshing, but, as usual with northern apples, not especially sweet!
Cutler Grieve
Early-late September. Red-flushed, conical apple, medium sized fruit. Flesh is white, chewy with a hint of strawberry. At its best, one of the best flavoured apples we grow. A choice variety, but scab can be a problem. This apple originates in Scotland, but does not quite match the official description! May be mis-named.
Devonshire Quarrenden
An early apple, pick end of August. Fruit is red over green/yellow base. Flesh is white, juicy and flavoursome. A very old variety, 17th century.
Discovery
Well known and deservedly popular early apple, which in our experience is very reliable and recommended for Cumbria and similar climates. Medium to large flattish fruit, pick end of August into early September. Contrary to reports, we find that they keep satisfactorily for several weeks in a cool place. Pale red flush over green/yellow base.
Duke of Devonshire
Originated at Holker Hall (Duke of Devonshire’s estate). A medium-small russeted apple, picked in mid-October. Will keep until after the New Year, if they are not all eaten before! Sweet, slightly nutty flavour – the skin quite thick and chewy (but not unpleasantly so). Recommended.
Egremont Russet
Well-known russet apple, widely available commercially in season. Alas, originates from Lord Egremont's estate in Sussex, rather than from the West Cumbrian town. Medium fruit, russetted with yellow/green skin and dry, white flesh. At its best, flavour is delicious, nutty. In recent years we have had excellent crops of high quality apples, but the trees took a long time to come fully into production.
Ellison's Orange
Late Victorian apple, one of its parent's was the incomparable Cox's Orange Pippin. At its best, has much of the complex flavour of Cox, but can be disappointing in some seasons. Widely grown in the North, and Scotland in the past. Some susceptibility to canker and scab, although much better than Cox. Pick late September, keeps until November.
Epicure
A Laxton apple, from the early 20th century. Cox crossed with Wealthy, small apples and prone to scab, but good flavour.
Farmers Glory
A Devon variety, tree is healthy and vigorous in our trials. Fruit is flattish, green and brisk. Can be used for cooking, or for sharp eating. Pick early September, keeps until October.
Fiesta
Another apple bred from Cox's Orange Pippin. this time crossed with Idared. Apple is medium, with Cox-like shape. Skin is more coloured - red over green/orange. Flesh is crisp, juicy. Untidy sprawling habit. Pick October, keep until February.
Forge
October to December. Small to medium apple, well-known in Victorian times. Well-flavoured, slightly tannic flesh (has been used for Cider making in the past). Reliable.
Fortune
A second early apple, pick in September. Juicy, chewy flesh, reddy skin, lightly russeted. Fruit medium, long. We have found this to be a reliable cropper, and fairly healthy. Semi-vigorous tree.
Forty Shillings
An old Cumberland variety, planting material was supplied to the National Collection from an old tree in Thursby, near Carlisle. Fruit is slightly ribbed, greeny/yellow and with crimson stripes. Pick late September, keeps until December. Flavour is quite unique, and very interesting. Recommended.
Galloway Pippin
Early October to November. Medium to large, slightly russeted fruit with distinct eye and flattened shape. Flesh is crisp, holds shape well in cooking. Can also be used as a sharp eater, especially as season progresses. Healthy and reliable, vigorous tree. Recommended.
Gavin
Gavin is the result of postwar breeding to produce a Cox-type apple with better disease resistance. It is a cross between Merton Worcester and a crab apple. We have had regular crops, but of somewhat bland flavour, although the apples look wonderful.
George Cave
Mid-August. Deep red flush over pale base, flesh white, juicy, with a melting flavour. At its best, one of the best flavoured early apples, with a flavour that cannot be experienced in any commercially available apple. Fruit is medium/large. Susceptible to canker, however.
Golden Monday (not sure if we still have this)
Pick late September. Fruit is medium to large, yellow with green base and red striping. Shape is flattened with distinctive eye. Flesh is crisp, white. In our trials fruiting has been modest but reliable.
Golden Pippin
Small yellow apple, parent of the Victorian varieties Yellow Ingestrie and Pitmaston Pineapple. Widely grown in Scotland and Northern England in the past. Pick early October.
Golden Spire
Mid September to late October. Golden, conical apple with firm, cream coloured flesh. Local to Lancashire and Westmorland.
Used to also be grown as a cider variety in the West Country. Regular cropper, and healthy.
Granny Smith
Well-known commercial apple, bred in Australia. Surprisingly perhaps, we have found it crops satisfactorily in our difficult climate. Flavour of northern-grown apples is quite acidic, but refreshing! Skin is blushed red over the familiar green. Tree is not vigorous, and quite compact.
Hood’s Supreme
An early apple, pick late August/September. Large fruit with red flush and creamy-white flesh. Popular in taste testing we have done on the farm! Trees are not very vigorous, but healthy and a reliable cropper. Variety originated in Angus, Scotland.
Irish Peach
Mid-August. Small, yellow/red apple with intense juicy flavour. Skin can be affected by scab, but flavour unimpaired.
Usually the first apple of the season for us, but yields can be quite low.
James Grieve
Famous, and celebrated late Victorian apple bred in Scotland and distributed around the temperate world. Tree is relatively compact, some problems with scab, and in particular canker on some sites. Fruit is medium, round and attractive. Flesh is refreshing, juicy. Has been used to breed several other well-known apples, including Katy. Pick end September, keeps until end November.
Johnny Johnston
Mid-late September. Crimson over green base. Smaller fruit, with flattened shape and distinct eye. Flesh is crisp, white with brisk flavour. Sweetens with keeping. A relaible cropper, and healthy. Propogated in Ayrshire by John Butterworth from an old tree nearby.
Katy/Katja
Late August/Early September. Deep red over yellow base, medium fruit with sweet, juicy flesh. Flavour has strawberry hint. Reliable cropper, lovely attractive fruit.
Kerry Pippin (not sure if we still have this)
Very old Irish apple, second early - pick in September. Small fruit, greeny yellow with light russetting. Nutty 'russet' type flavour. we have found this variety crops quite heavily, but for us, at least, scab is a major problem.
Keswick Codlin
August to Mid October. Pale green/yellow conical fruit, distinctly ribbed. Famous Victorian culinary apple, introduced by Keswick nurseryman Sanders in 1793. Cooks to juicy, creamy froth. Used to be extensively grown in Cumberland and elsewhere – often to be found in old cottage and farmhouse gardens. Reliable, almost always produces a crop.
Kidd’s Orange Red
Yes, another Cox cross, bred in New Zealand and crossed with the North American variety Delicious. Known to do well in Northern gardens, an attractive apple (as the name suggests), red/orange over yellow. Flesh is sweet, melting. Pick October keep until January.
Kirton Fair
Early apple from Devon - pick early September. Fruit is green/yellow medium to small. We have not yet got enough experience with this variety to be able to comment on health and vigour, but it is an old traditional apple. Flavour is sharp but quite complex, and refreshing.
Lady Sudely
Second early dessert apple, pick early September, keeps for two weeks or so. Quite large fruit, attractively coloured with distinctive dark red stripes over a red/yellow base. Flattish 'pippin' shape, flesh is white, with pleasant flavour. We have found this variety to be healthy and reliable.
Lemon Queen
Medium to large apple, lemon coloured skin and white juicy flesh. Flavour is slightly tart and refreshing, flesh is crisp. Vigorous, healthy tree, but strongly biennial in habit (at least in our experience). May also be used as a cooking apple.
Liberty
The product of an American breeding programme, crossing a McIntosh apple with a crab, in order to improve scab resistance. Apple is medium, with a good conical shape and red skin. Flesh is juicy, refreshing. Crops regularly.
Longstart
A Westmorland apple, round and well-shaped, medium in size. Stalk is long (hence the name). Red over a green/brown base. Flesh is soft, juicy. One of the most reliable apples in the Cumbrian climate. Tree is also healthy and a compact size. Pick fruit in late September, keep until January. Recommended for difficult sites.
Lorton Vale
Grown by us from a pip (from a Granny Smith). Fruit is green with red blush, flesh is pink, very juicy, sweet and melting. A healthy and reliable tree. Fruit is small to medium, may benefit from thinning in some years. Vigorous tree. Pick in early October, keeps until February (if they have not all been eaten). Looks a little like its parent, but flavour is quite different.
Mere de Menage
Very large red fruit (easily the biggest fruit in our orchards). Cooking apple of European origin. 18th century, or earlier. Trees are healthy and vigorous, scab rarely a problem. Blossom can be damaged by late frosts in some seasons. Pick mid October, keeps until January. Recommended.
Merton Worcester
Small apples, sweet and falvoured but tends to scab in our trials.
Michaelmas Red
Late September to End October. A cross between Worcester Pearmain and McIntosh, bred by . Medium fruit with partly conical shape, red/dark red skin with soft white flesh. Flavour is sweet, melting. At its best, the most delicious apple that we grow. Bred by the inimitable H M Tydeman. Recommended
Millers Seedling
Pick in early to mid September. Green/yellow skin with crimson flush/stripe. Soft white flesh with very pleasant flavour. Keeps for three or four weeks. Heavy crops of healthy apples - seems much more scab-resistant than most apples. Biennial habit, but almost always a crop of some size, and can be enormous.
Newton Wonder
Victorian cooking apple from South Derbyshire. Well known and recommended variety, which we have found to be relaible and healthy. Fruit is flushed reddy brown over green /yellow base, medium to large. Flesh is creamy white, cooks to a nice puree. Pick mid October, keeps until March. We find that they are an acceptable eater later in the season.
Nine Square
A West of England variety, late season dual-purpose apple. Fruit is medium, green with crisp white flesh. Pick mid October, keep until March. In our orchards, trees are vigorous, but grow strongly away from the prevailing wind, forming distinctive shapes! Very healthy and hardy apple.
Norfolk Beefing
One of the last apples on the trees - pick in November, keeps until April. Smooth, thick skin of purple/red. Medium sized apples that are often borne high up in the tree. Crops regularly and reliably. Trees are healthy and semi-vigorous with an upright habit. Fruit is often carried high in the tree
Norfolk Royal Russet
Sport of Norfolk Russet, light russeting, small apples but flavour and hardiness good.
Plum Vite
A Devon apple, very vigorous and healthy trees. Fruit is medium, green with white, juicy flesh. Pick mid August. eat straight away. Some sources report problems with canker, but we have not found this to be the case. usually produces enormous crops.
Rajka
Modern variety bred specifically for organic systems in the Czech Republic. Similar to Cevaal, a nice eating apple but with disease and cropping issues, for us at least.
Red Falstaff
Product of 20th Cent breeding programme to produce more modern apples. Attractive, even fruit, but we hve found it not hardy and prone to scab and canker.
Red Windsor
Sport of Alkamene; a modern variety bred in Germany. Compact habit, healthy tree with medium vigour. Retains some of the Cox flavour (Cox is a distant parent). Fruit is pleasant and uniform, but we have had lots of canker and scab problems.
Ribston Pippin
Famous Yorkshire apple, 18th century and a parent of Cox's Orange Pippin. Pick late October, keeps until February (unlikely as you will probably eat them well before then!). Irregular fruit with distinctive knobbly shape around the eye. Trees are healthy, semi-vigorous and spreading. Leaves are attractive with dark green uppers and much lighter underneath. In our trials we have found it to be a modest cropper, and blossom can be frost and wind damaged.
Rosemary Russet
Late picking apple, very early Victorian origin. Fruit is medium, round, with partially russetted skin, red/gold over green base. Flesh is, at its best, aromatic and full of flavour. Pick mid October, keep until March. Trees appear to be healthy and semi-vigorous.
Saint Edmund's Pippin
Another wonderful Victorian apple, lightly russeted and with excellent flavour. Mid-season apple, keeps well.
Sam Young
October to December. Small, russetted apple with attractive skin and prominent eye. Intense flavour, with dry, nutty flesh. Originated in Ireland in early 19th century. We have found it a little scab-prone, but otherwise trouble-free.
Saturn
Modern UK cross, bred for disease resistance. Fruit is medium, conical, ribbed. Skin is red over green/yellow, flesh is sweet, juicy, but not complex. Pick early September.
Scotch Bridget
Late September to January. Oblong-conical fruit with predominant ribbing. Flushed red over green base. Quite rich, cream flesh.
Once grown widely in Scotland and Northern England. Overall, probably the best choice for a Cumbrian or similarly 'challenging' location - produces reliable crops of healthy fruit, very little affected by scab. In most seasons a very acceptable eating apples, as well as being useful in the kitchen. Recommended.
Scotch Dumpling
August to September. Usually large, uneven-shaped fruit. Cooks to brisk, well flavoured froth. A reliable variety that often benefits from some thinning in late June.
Spartan
Well-known Canadian apple, dark red/crimson skin, white crisp flesh. At one time was imported into the UK in huge numbers from Canada and North America, recently fallen from favour to some extent. Pick early October, keeps until January. Trees have an upright habit, some scab problems but acceptable.
Star of Devon
October to January. Medium to small apple, crimson flushed over green base. Flesh is white, juicy and refreshing. Healthy and reliable, and a good keeper, in our experience. Small fruit. Recommended.
Sunset
Well-known alternative to Cox, recommended for less favoured positions. Fruit is Cox-like, but generally smaller, and more yellow. Flavour is good, but can be a little disappointing in some seasons. Again, our own experience is limited, but known to be hardy and disease free.
The Maltster
October to December. Probably of Victorian descent, large, irregular apples with mild sweet flavour. Very reliable, and usually heavy crops.
Tydeman's Early Worcester
Another product of Marcus Tydeman's nursery - Worcester bred with McIntosh. We have had slightly irregular crops, but good quality and Delicious fruit.
Tydeman’s Late Orange
Yes, a Cox cross. This time between Cox and Laxton's Superb. As the name suggests, a late apple, and a good keeper. Apple has a Cox-type colour, slightly more conical, and tends to be large fruit.
White Melrose
Mid September to late October. Medium-large round, pale yellow fruit with pleasant aroma. Flesh is sharp/sweet, and holds shape well in cooking. Once a popular apple in the Tweedside orchards of Scotland.
Winter Gem
Another Cox cross, bred in the 1960's to offer some its parent's complex flavour with better disease resistance. Fruit is red on yellow base, lightly russetted. Fruit has more of a pearmain shape than Cox. Tree has a reputation for health and reliable cropping.
Winter Peach
Uncertain origin - possibly West-country. Late season apple, pick late October, keep until March/April. Trees are healthy, semi-vigorous.
Worcester Pearmain
Mid-September to late October. Well-known English apple. Medium size fruit with round/conical shape. Bright red with yellow/green background. Flesh is white, with chewy, sweet flavour.
Victorian cultivar. Pick mid October, keep until February/March. Fruit is medium, conical 'pearmain' shape. Skin is russetted red over green/brown base. Flesh is dry, aromatic.
Allen's Everlasting
Beauty of Bath
Mid-August. Traditionally, the first apple available at the start of the season. Small/medium fruit, attractive red stripes over green/yellow base. Flavour is distinct, pleasant but not always very sweet.
Beauty of Moray
Pick mid September, keep until November. Pale green/yellow round fruit, smooth skinned, medium to large size. Cooks to a sharp, strongly flavoured puree. Healthy and reliable. Recommended
Bloody Ploughman
Mid-late September. Dark, crimson apple with distinctive ribbed shape. Can suffer from superficial scab damage to skin.
Flesh is white, crisp, juicy. Flesh can be tinted pink when fully ripe (like the others on this list, it will ripen in the fruit bowl).
Bramley
Well-known, and deservedly so. One of the very few Victorian apples still in large-scale commercial production. We have found it to be a reasonably reliable cropper, producing medium crops of the characteristically large green fruit (heavily crimson flushed in our conditions). Fruit does often suffer from scab, which can look unsightly but does not affect the flesh. Pick early October, keep until April.
Cambusnethan Pippin
An old variety, probably pre-Victorian. Pick late September, keeps until early January. Fruit is medium, flat with a very distinctive large 'eye'. Skin is crimson streaked on a green/yellow base. Flesh is white, flavoursome, rather sharp. Skin tends to crack around stalk, but does not affect keeping qualities noticeably. Cropping is not often heavy, but fairly regular.
Carlisle Codlin
Probably pre-Victorian, but at any rate known since 1830. Fruit is yellow/green, round and with sin that becomes greasy in storage. Flesh is transluscent white, with an unusually good flavour when cooked carefully. For us, in our trials, this variety has been disappointing with low yields and irregular cropping!
Cevaal
Modern apple, bred for disease resistance in organic systems. Flavour is sweet and quite conventional. We have not found it to be as disease resistant as we hoped - scab and canker mainly.
Christmas Pearmain
Pick late October, keeps until January/February. A healthy, quite vigorous tree, but prone to produce large crops of rather small fruit. Fruit is red over green base, lightly russetted. Elongated fruit, crisp, juicy flesh. Very distinct flavour, not especially sweet but delicious and refreshing.
Cockermouth Codlin’
A chance seedling, found growing in a hedgerow just outside Cockermouth in West Cumbria. Similar colour to Keswick Codling, and same distinctive ribbed appearance, but rounder in shape. Also flowers later and ready for picking in early October. Flesh is pure white, soft and juicy. Flavour has been described as ‘like eating cider’! Regular and reliable cropper. Keeps until January. Recommended.
Cockle Pippin
Pick mid October, keeps until March. Medium to large fruit, yellow/green with russet patches. Like many late apples, flesh is firm and aromatic. Pre-Victorian variety.
Cornish Aromatic
October to December. Medium apple, red flush and faint red stripes over gold. Firm fleshed with sweet- sharp, pear-drop quality, almost spicy. In some seasons benefits from thinning. Blossom is most attractive.
Coul Blush
Famous as being Britain's most Northerly variety, this apple was raised near Coul, in Ross, in the early 19th century. We have grown this variety for many years and have found it a vigorous, healthy tree with regular crops of medium-large fruit, Pick mid-late September, keeps until November. Skin is green/yellow and smooth. Flesh is white, crisp, refreshing, but, as usual with northern apples, not especially sweet!
Cutler Grieve
Early-late September. Red-flushed, conical apple, medium sized fruit. Flesh is white, chewy with a hint of strawberry. At its best, one of the best flavoured apples we grow. A choice variety, but scab can be a problem. This apple originates in Scotland, but does not quite match the official description! May be mis-named.
Devonshire Quarrenden
An early apple, pick end of August. Fruit is red over green/yellow base. Flesh is white, juicy and flavoursome. A very old variety, 17th century.
Discovery
Well known and deservedly popular early apple, which in our experience is very reliable and recommended for Cumbria and similar climates. Medium to large flattish fruit, pick end of August into early September. Contrary to reports, we find that they keep satisfactorily for several weeks in a cool place. Pale red flush over green/yellow base.
Duke of Devonshire
Originated at Holker Hall (Duke of Devonshire’s estate). A medium-small russeted apple, picked in mid-October. Will keep until after the New Year, if they are not all eaten before! Sweet, slightly nutty flavour – the skin quite thick and chewy (but not unpleasantly so). Recommended.
Egremont Russet
Well-known russet apple, widely available commercially in season. Alas, originates from Lord Egremont's estate in Sussex, rather than from the West Cumbrian town. Medium fruit, russetted with yellow/green skin and dry, white flesh. At its best, flavour is delicious, nutty. In recent years we have had excellent crops of high quality apples, but the trees took a long time to come fully into production.
Ellison's Orange
Late Victorian apple, one of its parent's was the incomparable Cox's Orange Pippin. At its best, has much of the complex flavour of Cox, but can be disappointing in some seasons. Widely grown in the North, and Scotland in the past. Some susceptibility to canker and scab, although much better than Cox. Pick late September, keeps until November.
Epicure
A Laxton apple, from the early 20th century. Cox crossed with Wealthy, small apples and prone to scab, but good flavour.
Farmers Glory
A Devon variety, tree is healthy and vigorous in our trials. Fruit is flattish, green and brisk. Can be used for cooking, or for sharp eating. Pick early September, keeps until October.
Fiesta
Another apple bred from Cox's Orange Pippin. this time crossed with Idared. Apple is medium, with Cox-like shape. Skin is more coloured - red over green/orange. Flesh is crisp, juicy. Untidy sprawling habit. Pick October, keep until February.
Forge
October to December. Small to medium apple, well-known in Victorian times. Well-flavoured, slightly tannic flesh (has been used for Cider making in the past). Reliable.
Fortune
A second early apple, pick in September. Juicy, chewy flesh, reddy skin, lightly russeted. Fruit medium, long. We have found this to be a reliable cropper, and fairly healthy. Semi-vigorous tree.
Forty Shillings
An old Cumberland variety, planting material was supplied to the National Collection from an old tree in Thursby, near Carlisle. Fruit is slightly ribbed, greeny/yellow and with crimson stripes. Pick late September, keeps until December. Flavour is quite unique, and very interesting. Recommended.
Galloway Pippin
Early October to November. Medium to large, slightly russeted fruit with distinct eye and flattened shape. Flesh is crisp, holds shape well in cooking. Can also be used as a sharp eater, especially as season progresses. Healthy and reliable, vigorous tree. Recommended.
Gavin
Gavin is the result of postwar breeding to produce a Cox-type apple with better disease resistance. It is a cross between Merton Worcester and a crab apple. We have had regular crops, but of somewhat bland flavour, although the apples look wonderful.
George Cave
Mid-August. Deep red flush over pale base, flesh white, juicy, with a melting flavour. At its best, one of the best flavoured early apples, with a flavour that cannot be experienced in any commercially available apple. Fruit is medium/large. Susceptible to canker, however.
Golden Monday (not sure if we still have this)
Pick late September. Fruit is medium to large, yellow with green base and red striping. Shape is flattened with distinctive eye. Flesh is crisp, white. In our trials fruiting has been modest but reliable.
Golden Pippin
Small yellow apple, parent of the Victorian varieties Yellow Ingestrie and Pitmaston Pineapple. Widely grown in Scotland and Northern England in the past. Pick early October.
Golden Spire
Mid September to late October. Golden, conical apple with firm, cream coloured flesh. Local to Lancashire and Westmorland.
Used to also be grown as a cider variety in the West Country. Regular cropper, and healthy.
Granny Smith
Well-known commercial apple, bred in Australia. Surprisingly perhaps, we have found it crops satisfactorily in our difficult climate. Flavour of northern-grown apples is quite acidic, but refreshing! Skin is blushed red over the familiar green. Tree is not vigorous, and quite compact.
Hood’s Supreme
An early apple, pick late August/September. Large fruit with red flush and creamy-white flesh. Popular in taste testing we have done on the farm! Trees are not very vigorous, but healthy and a reliable cropper. Variety originated in Angus, Scotland.
Irish Peach
Mid-August. Small, yellow/red apple with intense juicy flavour. Skin can be affected by scab, but flavour unimpaired.
Usually the first apple of the season for us, but yields can be quite low.
James Grieve
Famous, and celebrated late Victorian apple bred in Scotland and distributed around the temperate world. Tree is relatively compact, some problems with scab, and in particular canker on some sites. Fruit is medium, round and attractive. Flesh is refreshing, juicy. Has been used to breed several other well-known apples, including Katy. Pick end September, keeps until end November.
Johnny Johnston
Mid-late September. Crimson over green base. Smaller fruit, with flattened shape and distinct eye. Flesh is crisp, white with brisk flavour. Sweetens with keeping. A relaible cropper, and healthy. Propogated in Ayrshire by John Butterworth from an old tree nearby.
Katy/Katja
Late August/Early September. Deep red over yellow base, medium fruit with sweet, juicy flesh. Flavour has strawberry hint. Reliable cropper, lovely attractive fruit.
Kerry Pippin (not sure if we still have this)
Very old Irish apple, second early - pick in September. Small fruit, greeny yellow with light russetting. Nutty 'russet' type flavour. we have found this variety crops quite heavily, but for us, at least, scab is a major problem.
Keswick Codlin
August to Mid October. Pale green/yellow conical fruit, distinctly ribbed. Famous Victorian culinary apple, introduced by Keswick nurseryman Sanders in 1793. Cooks to juicy, creamy froth. Used to be extensively grown in Cumberland and elsewhere – often to be found in old cottage and farmhouse gardens. Reliable, almost always produces a crop.
Kidd’s Orange Red
Yes, another Cox cross, bred in New Zealand and crossed with the North American variety Delicious. Known to do well in Northern gardens, an attractive apple (as the name suggests), red/orange over yellow. Flesh is sweet, melting. Pick October keep until January.
Kirton Fair
Early apple from Devon - pick early September. Fruit is green/yellow medium to small. We have not yet got enough experience with this variety to be able to comment on health and vigour, but it is an old traditional apple. Flavour is sharp but quite complex, and refreshing.
Lady Sudely
Second early dessert apple, pick early September, keeps for two weeks or so. Quite large fruit, attractively coloured with distinctive dark red stripes over a red/yellow base. Flattish 'pippin' shape, flesh is white, with pleasant flavour. We have found this variety to be healthy and reliable.
Lemon Queen
Medium to large apple, lemon coloured skin and white juicy flesh. Flavour is slightly tart and refreshing, flesh is crisp. Vigorous, healthy tree, but strongly biennial in habit (at least in our experience). May also be used as a cooking apple.
Liberty
The product of an American breeding programme, crossing a McIntosh apple with a crab, in order to improve scab resistance. Apple is medium, with a good conical shape and red skin. Flesh is juicy, refreshing. Crops regularly.
Longstart
A Westmorland apple, round and well-shaped, medium in size. Stalk is long (hence the name). Red over a green/brown base. Flesh is soft, juicy. One of the most reliable apples in the Cumbrian climate. Tree is also healthy and a compact size. Pick fruit in late September, keep until January. Recommended for difficult sites.
Lorton Vale
Grown by us from a pip (from a Granny Smith). Fruit is green with red blush, flesh is pink, very juicy, sweet and melting. A healthy and reliable tree. Fruit is small to medium, may benefit from thinning in some years. Vigorous tree. Pick in early October, keeps until February (if they have not all been eaten). Looks a little like its parent, but flavour is quite different.
Mere de Menage
Very large red fruit (easily the biggest fruit in our orchards). Cooking apple of European origin. 18th century, or earlier. Trees are healthy and vigorous, scab rarely a problem. Blossom can be damaged by late frosts in some seasons. Pick mid October, keeps until January. Recommended.
Merton Worcester
Small apples, sweet and falvoured but tends to scab in our trials.
Michaelmas Red
Late September to End October. A cross between Worcester Pearmain and McIntosh, bred by . Medium fruit with partly conical shape, red/dark red skin with soft white flesh. Flavour is sweet, melting. At its best, the most delicious apple that we grow. Bred by the inimitable H M Tydeman. Recommended
Millers Seedling
Pick in early to mid September. Green/yellow skin with crimson flush/stripe. Soft white flesh with very pleasant flavour. Keeps for three or four weeks. Heavy crops of healthy apples - seems much more scab-resistant than most apples. Biennial habit, but almost always a crop of some size, and can be enormous.
Newton Wonder
Victorian cooking apple from South Derbyshire. Well known and recommended variety, which we have found to be relaible and healthy. Fruit is flushed reddy brown over green /yellow base, medium to large. Flesh is creamy white, cooks to a nice puree. Pick mid October, keeps until March. We find that they are an acceptable eater later in the season.
Nine Square
A West of England variety, late season dual-purpose apple. Fruit is medium, green with crisp white flesh. Pick mid October, keep until March. In our orchards, trees are vigorous, but grow strongly away from the prevailing wind, forming distinctive shapes! Very healthy and hardy apple.
Norfolk Beefing
One of the last apples on the trees - pick in November, keeps until April. Smooth, thick skin of purple/red. Medium sized apples that are often borne high up in the tree. Crops regularly and reliably. Trees are healthy and semi-vigorous with an upright habit. Fruit is often carried high in the tree
Norfolk Royal Russet
Sport of Norfolk Russet, light russeting, small apples but flavour and hardiness good.
Plum Vite
A Devon apple, very vigorous and healthy trees. Fruit is medium, green with white, juicy flesh. Pick mid August. eat straight away. Some sources report problems with canker, but we have not found this to be the case. usually produces enormous crops.
Rajka
Modern variety bred specifically for organic systems in the Czech Republic. Similar to Cevaal, a nice eating apple but with disease and cropping issues, for us at least.
Red Falstaff
Product of 20th Cent breeding programme to produce more modern apples. Attractive, even fruit, but we hve found it not hardy and prone to scab and canker.
Red Windsor
Sport of Alkamene; a modern variety bred in Germany. Compact habit, healthy tree with medium vigour. Retains some of the Cox flavour (Cox is a distant parent). Fruit is pleasant and uniform, but we have had lots of canker and scab problems.
Ribston Pippin
Famous Yorkshire apple, 18th century and a parent of Cox's Orange Pippin. Pick late October, keeps until February (unlikely as you will probably eat them well before then!). Irregular fruit with distinctive knobbly shape around the eye. Trees are healthy, semi-vigorous and spreading. Leaves are attractive with dark green uppers and much lighter underneath. In our trials we have found it to be a modest cropper, and blossom can be frost and wind damaged.
Rosemary Russet
Late picking apple, very early Victorian origin. Fruit is medium, round, with partially russetted skin, red/gold over green base. Flesh is, at its best, aromatic and full of flavour. Pick mid October, keep until March. Trees appear to be healthy and semi-vigorous.
Saint Edmund's Pippin
Another wonderful Victorian apple, lightly russeted and with excellent flavour. Mid-season apple, keeps well.
Sam Young
October to December. Small, russetted apple with attractive skin and prominent eye. Intense flavour, with dry, nutty flesh. Originated in Ireland in early 19th century. We have found it a little scab-prone, but otherwise trouble-free.
Saturn
Modern UK cross, bred for disease resistance. Fruit is medium, conical, ribbed. Skin is red over green/yellow, flesh is sweet, juicy, but not complex. Pick early September.
Scotch Bridget
Late September to January. Oblong-conical fruit with predominant ribbing. Flushed red over green base. Quite rich, cream flesh.
Once grown widely in Scotland and Northern England. Overall, probably the best choice for a Cumbrian or similarly 'challenging' location - produces reliable crops of healthy fruit, very little affected by scab. In most seasons a very acceptable eating apples, as well as being useful in the kitchen. Recommended.
Scotch Dumpling
August to September. Usually large, uneven-shaped fruit. Cooks to brisk, well flavoured froth. A reliable variety that often benefits from some thinning in late June.
Spartan
Well-known Canadian apple, dark red/crimson skin, white crisp flesh. At one time was imported into the UK in huge numbers from Canada and North America, recently fallen from favour to some extent. Pick early October, keeps until January. Trees have an upright habit, some scab problems but acceptable.
Star of Devon
October to January. Medium to small apple, crimson flushed over green base. Flesh is white, juicy and refreshing. Healthy and reliable, and a good keeper, in our experience. Small fruit. Recommended.
Sunset
Well-known alternative to Cox, recommended for less favoured positions. Fruit is Cox-like, but generally smaller, and more yellow. Flavour is good, but can be a little disappointing in some seasons. Again, our own experience is limited, but known to be hardy and disease free.
The Maltster
October to December. Probably of Victorian descent, large, irregular apples with mild sweet flavour. Very reliable, and usually heavy crops.
Tydeman's Early Worcester
Another product of Marcus Tydeman's nursery - Worcester bred with McIntosh. We have had slightly irregular crops, but good quality and Delicious fruit.
Tydeman’s Late Orange
Yes, a Cox cross. This time between Cox and Laxton's Superb. As the name suggests, a late apple, and a good keeper. Apple has a Cox-type colour, slightly more conical, and tends to be large fruit.
White Melrose
Mid September to late October. Medium-large round, pale yellow fruit with pleasant aroma. Flesh is sharp/sweet, and holds shape well in cooking. Once a popular apple in the Tweedside orchards of Scotland.
Winter Gem
Another Cox cross, bred in the 1960's to offer some its parent's complex flavour with better disease resistance. Fruit is red on yellow base, lightly russetted. Fruit has more of a pearmain shape than Cox. Tree has a reputation for health and reliable cropping.
Winter Peach
Uncertain origin - possibly West-country. Late season apple, pick late October, keep until March/April. Trees are healthy, semi-vigorous.
Worcester Pearmain
Mid-September to late October. Well-known English apple. Medium size fruit with round/conical shape. Bright red with yellow/green background. Flesh is white, with chewy, sweet flavour.