Normally, our Collector’s Item feature focuses on rare and unusual plants. But this month, we’ve got a special edition looking at apples. These unusual cultivars are held by the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale.
Arthur Turner
Culinary. September-November. Raised by Charles Turner at Slough, Bucks., and introduced by him in 1915. Received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1912 as ‘Turner’s Prolific’. It was renamed in 1913. A large cooking apple with somewhat tough skin. Fruits have creamy white, coarse-textured dry, acid flesh. Well known for its particularly attractive blossom, for which it received an Award of Garden Merit in 1945.
Blenheim Orange
Dual purpose. October-January. Triploid. Discovered by Mr Kempster at Woodstock near Blenheim, Oxfordshire, England in about 1740. Distributed in about 1818. It received the Banksian medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1822. Fruits have creamy white, somewhat coarse-textured and rather dry flesh with a rich, characteristic aromatic flavour. Cooks well.
Charles Ross
Dual purpose. October-December. Peasgood’s Nonsuch X Cox’s Orange Pippin. Raised by Charles Ross at Welford Park Gardens, Newbury, Berkshire. It was first exhibited in 1890 as Thomas Andrew Knight but renamed Charles Ross at the request of his employer, Captain Carstairs in 1899. Received an Award of Merit and a First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1899. Fruits are rather coarse-textured, juicy and sweet with a moderate flavour.
Egremont Russet
Dessert. October-December. Thought to have originated in England. It was first recorded in 1872. Fruits have firm, fine-textured, rather dry flesh with a rich, nutty flavour. It is probably the most important commercial russet in the UK at the present time.
James Grieve
Dual purpose. September-October. Thought to be a seedling of Potts’ Seedling. Raised by James Grieve in Edinburgh, Scotland and introduced by his employers, Dickson’s nurserymen. It was first recorded in 1893. Received Award of Merit in 1897 and First Class Certificate in 1906 from the Royal Horticultural Society. Fruits have rather soft but very juicy flesh with a good refreshing flavour.
Lord Lambourne
Dessert. Late September-Mid November. James Grieve X Worcester Pearmain. Raised in 1907 by Laxton Bros. Ltd. at Bedford, England and introduced by them in 1923. It received the Bunyard Cup from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1921 and an Award of Merit in 1923. Fruits have slightly coarse-textured, juicy flesh with a sweet and good aromatic flavour.
Peasgood’s Nonsuch
Culinary. September-December. Said to be a Catshead cross. Raised by Mrs Peasgood at Stamford, Lincolnshire, England from seed sown in about 1858. Received First Class Certificate from Royal Horticultural Society in 1872. Fruits are a little coarse textured, moderately juicy and a little sweet. Cooks well.
Ribston Pippin
Dessert. October-January. Raised at Ribston Hall, Yorkshire, England from seed brought from Rouen, and planted in about 1707. Received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1962. Fruits have firm, fine-textured, moderately juicy flesh with a rich aromatic flavour.
Sunset
Dessert. October-December. Cox’s Orange Pippin seedling. Raised in about 1918 by G.C.Addy at Ightham, Kent. Named in 1933. It received an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1960. Fruits have firm crisp, fine-textured flesh with a good aromatic Cox-like flavour.
Worcester Pearmain
Dessert. September-October. Believed to be a seedling from Devonshire Quarrenden. Raised by Mr Hale of Swan Pool, near Worcester, England. Introduced by Smith of Worcester in 1874. Received a First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1875. Fruits have firm, white, a little juicy flesh with a sweet and pleasant flavour.
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