Fruit Blossom at the National Fruit Collection

Nana, sour cherry

This year, again, we are very grateful to Lorinda Jewsbury for the flowering dates for the apples, pears, cherries and plums growing in the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale in Kent, UK

27^th April 2023

The cool spring weather has produced a bit of a slow start to the flowering at Brogdale this year, with a touch of frost damage seen on the early plum varieties.  However, flowering in the orchards is now underway (the plums are mostly over) and, with the temperatures on the rise for the coming Bank Holiday weekend, it will be a busy time out there in early May.

Early-flowering plums may be further impacted by the cool weather as a lack of pollinators in early spring is likely to affect fruit numbers on these varieties.  To add to this, the past winter at Brogdale was relatively mild and this has led to high levels of SWD (spotted wing drosphila) now being seen in the orchards.  This small fly targets soft fruit (cherry and plum at Brogdale), laying eggs in developing fruit and damaging the crop.  Hopefully we won’t see too much damage from them this year, but we will continue to monitor its numbers in the orchards.

On a good note, flowering in the pears has been a great improvement on last year (which saw very light flowering on a number of varieties) and the hope is for a better crop in 2023.

 

27 April 2023

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  5^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 19^th April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  31^st March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower); 12^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 18^th April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   10^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   3^rd April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   7^th April (10% open); 9^th April (full flower); 20^th April (90% petal fall)

 

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower);

Conference:   18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower);

Doyenne du Comice:  24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower);

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

 

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  16^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower);

Hertford: 26^th April (10% open);

Lapins:  15^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower);

Merchant: 26^th April (10% open);

Stella:

Sunburst:

 

APPLE

Blenheim Orange:

Bramley’s Seedling:

Cox’s Orange Pippin:

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery:

Egremont Russet:

Falstaff:

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin:

Gala:

James Grieve:

Jonagold:

Meridian:

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower);

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 25^th April (10% open);

Worcester Pearmain:

______________________

4 May 2023

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  5^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 19^th April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  31^st March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower); 12^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 18^th April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   10^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   3^rd April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   7^th April (10% open); 9^th April (full flower); 20^th April (90% petal fall)

 

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower);

Conference:   18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower);

Doyenne du Comice:  24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower);

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

 

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  16^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower);

Hertford: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower);

Lapins:  15^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower); 3^rd May (90% petal fall)

Merchant: 26^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower);

Stella: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower);

Sunburst: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower);

 

APPLE

Blenheim Orange:

Bramley’s Seedling: 3^rd May (10% open);

Cox’s Orange Pippin: 4^th May (10% open);

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery: 2^nd May (10% open); 4^th May (full flower);

Egremont Russet: 27^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower);

Falstaff: 3^rd May (10% open);

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 3^rd May (10% open);

Gala: 2^nd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower);

James Grieve: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower);

Jonagold:

Meridian: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower);

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower);

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 25^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower);

Worcester Pearmain:

_____________________

19 May 2023

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  5^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 19^th April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  31^st March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower); 12^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 18^th April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   10^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   3^rd April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   7^th April (10% open); 9^th April (full flower); 20^th April (90% petal fall)

 

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Conference:   18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Doyenne du Comice:  24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

 

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  16^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Hertford: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Lapins:  15^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower); 3^rd May (90% petal fall)

Merchant: 26^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Stella: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Sunburst: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

 

APPLE

Blenheim Orange: 5^th May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Bramley’s Seedling: 3^rd May (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 20^th May (90% petal fall)

Cox’s Orange Pippin: 4^th May (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery: 2^nd May (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Egremont Russet: 27^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Falstaff: 3^rd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 18^th May (90% petal fall)

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 3^rd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Gala: 2^nd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

James Grieve: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower);

Jonagold: 5^th May (10% open); 8^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Meridian: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 7^th May (90% petal fall)

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 25^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Worcester Pearmain: 5^th May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower); 19^th May (90% petal fall)

_________________

26 May 2023

Just an update for the apple James Grieve this time, as we’re still waiting on Crawley Beauty and Feuillemorte.

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  5^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 19^th April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  31^st March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower); 12^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 18^th April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   10^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   3^rd April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   7^th April (10% open); 9^th April (full flower); 20^th April (90% petal fall)

 

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Conference:   18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Doyenne du Comice:  24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

 

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  16^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Hertford: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 6^th May (90% petal fall)

Lapins:  15^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower); 3^rd May (90% petal fall)

Merchant: 26^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Stella: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Sunburst: 28^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

 

APPLE

Blenheim Orange: 5^th May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Bramley’s Seedling: 3^rd May (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 20^th May (90% petal fall)

Cox’s Orange Pippin: 4^th May (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery: 2^nd May (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Egremont Russet: 27^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 9^th May (90% petal fall)

Falstaff: 3^rd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 18^th May (90% petal fall)

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 3^rd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Gala: 2^nd May (10% open); 5^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

James Grieve: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower); 21^st May (90% petal fall)

Jonagold: 5^th May (10% open); 8^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Meridian: 30^th April (10% open); 3^rd May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 7^th May (90% petal fall)

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 25^th April (10% open); 29^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Worcester Pearmain: 5^th May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower); 19^th May (90% petal fall)

Fruit Blossom at the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, Kent

Josephine de Malines

21 April 2020

The warm weather over the past couple of weeks has made walks through the orchards very enjoyable and it has encouraged flowering a week to 10 days earlier than in 2021.  However, the level of flowering this year appears patchy across the orchards, with light flowering particularly noticeable in the pears and early apples. 

Of the varieties on my pear recording list, around 70% have light/very light/too few flowers to record.  A number of factors could be at play here and it may be that these varieties cropped heavily last year and are in a ‘resting’ phase this year, although many of the pears were affected by the late frosts in 2021 so this may not be the case.  Another factor may be low nutrient levels, so we will give them a good foliar feed to be on the safe side.

The blossom in other orchards at the NFC has fared better, with most plum and cherry varieties noted as ‘medium’ flowering.  All being well, a good crop can be expected in both these Collections this year, which will be very welcome after the light crop they produced in 2021.

Lorinda Jewsbury

2022

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  31^st March (10% open); 3^rd April (full flower); 17^th April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  28^th March (10% open); 31^st March (full flower); 14^th April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  24^th March (10% open); 26^th March (full flower); 10^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  29^th March (10% open); 31^st March (full flower); 17^th April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   7^th April (10% open); 10^th April (full flower);

Oullins Gage:   30^th March (10% open); 1^st April (full flower);

Pershore Yellow Egg:   27^th March (10% open); 30^th March (full flower); 14^th April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   30^th March (10% open); 31^st March (full flower); 14^th April (90% petal fall)

PEAR

Concorde:  12^th April (10% open); 14^th April (full flower);

Conference:   12^th April (10% open); 14^th April (full flower);

Doyenne du Comice:  12^th April (10% open); 14^th April (full flower);

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  4^th April (10% open); 6^th April (full flower); 19^th April (90% petal fall)

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  12^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower);

Hertford: 17^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower);

Lapins:  13^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower);

Merchant: 16^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower);

Stella: 16^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower);

Sunburst: 16^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower);

APPLE

Blenheim Orange:

Bramley’s Seedling: 18^th April (10% open);

Cox’s Orange Pippin:

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery:

Egremont Russet: 14^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower);

Falstaff: 16^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower);

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 19^th April (10% open);

Gala:

James Grieve: 16^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower);

Jonagold: 18^th April (10% open);

Meridian: 15^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower);

Red Astrachan: 5^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower);

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 13^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower);

Worcester Pearmain

Apples raised in Pontefract, Yorkshire?

Ribston Pippin blossom

I live in Pontefract and have a number of fruit trees and room for a few more, I’d love to grow some that were bred here. Do you know any varieties that they bred specifically in the town?

Ian Downes

The following response from Philip Rainford:

I’ve not been successful in finding an apple local to Pontefract. However, I do have a copy of lists of apples from ‘A “Brief Catalogue of Fruit Trees Sold by William Perfect Nurseryman at Pontefract’ (c late 18th/early 19th century) and Yorkshire varieties Yorkshire Greening, Ribston Pippin and Sykehouse Russet appear within. Know of Green Balsam not too far away (Church Fenton); Cockpit another old Yorkshire apple, which encroached into Lancashire in Victorian times!

Cherry tree growth super-enhanced: explanations please

Cherry tree showing enhanced vigour after black fly infestation

I have noticed something rather interesting which I’m sure one of your readers would be able to explain: super-enhanced vigour of a cherry after infestation with black fly. Last year we had two grafted trees of the same variety on the same rootstock (I’m sure), one year old at the time, and one was heavily attacked but the other (only a couple of yards away) was not touched. As last summer progressed and the black fly disappeared that tree put on a huge spurt of growth, really thick new wood with a bit of a kink where the new growth began. I assumed that the damage had stimulated the tree to make up lost ground, but interestingly this year the same tree is continuing it’s super-enhanced growth (with big leaves), whilst the unaffected tree appears quite normal!

I can only guess that the aphids must have infected the tree with a virus of some kind, though since they are probably growing from the same rootstock (grafted on suckers from a nearby standard tree) a virus might be expected to travel back and affect the other one?

Any suggestions would be most welcome!

James Evans

Apricots for Sale?

Apricot blossom will have suffered this year in the spring frosts and hence potential crops.

I’m looking for organically grown or un-sprayed apricots in Kent(UK). Any leads please? Thanks!

Annie Nichols

Fruit Blossom at National Fruit Collection Brogdale

Merpet cherry

Following the exceptional developments of the past year, and a necessary break from recording in 2020, it’s good to be back in the orchards recording the blossom once again.  However, the weather this year hasn’t been too kind and, walking through, it was obvious the late frosts had taken their toll on the blossom.  The plum blossom, in particular, exhibited a high rate of frost damage, with the damage on some trees estimated at up to 80%.  Quite a number of cherry and pear varieties were touched by frost, too, though the apple and quince, blossoming later, appear largely to have escaped its effects.

A lower yield is the most likely outcome of the frosts this year but we will have to wait and see on the extent of this.  The stage the trees were at for bud development when the frosts hit will play a part and some trees may go on to produce a good crop even though their blossom appeared damaged.  However, this certainly won’t be the case for all varieties and a lighter crop is to be expected later in the year.  In the meantime, a walk through the orchards with the trees in blossom is highly recommended and something to be enjoyed for now.

Lorinda Jewsbury

18^th May 2021

2021

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  11^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 27^th April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  30^th March (10% open); 1^st April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  4^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   13^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower); 26^th April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 17^th April (90% petal fall)

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Conference:   19^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Doyenne du Comice:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  7^th April (10% open); 10^th April (full flower); 22^nd April (90% petal fall)

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  13^th April (10% open); 17^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Hertford: 18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Lapins:  13^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower); 2^nd May (90% petal fall)

Merchant: 22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Stella: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 13^th May (90% petal fall)

Sunburst: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

APPLE

Blenheim Orange: 30th April (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Bramley’s Seedling: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Cox’s Orange Pippin: 30th April (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery: 29^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Egremont Russet: 25^th April (10% open); 28^th April (full flower); 11^th May (90% petal fall)

Falstaff: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 1^st May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower);

Gala: 30^th April (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

James Grieve: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Jonagold: 30^th April (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Meridian: 27^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower); 7^th May (90% petal fall)

Worcester Pearmain: 7^th May (10% open); 10^th May (full flower);

Lost Pear and Apple: can anyone help please

_{Thomas Andrew Knight, a Herefordshire squire, who raised the Croft Castle pear in the early nineteenth century}

Can anyone help with the hunt for two ‘lost’ cultivars – a pear called Croft Castle, listed in Hogg (1884), but elusive since then and an apple called ‘Northern Dumpling’, which originated in Gordon Castle gardens up in Morayshire and which they are keen to reintroduce.

Jo Miles

Apples and Plums for the South Pennines: suggestions please?

Opal plum

I want to plant apple/plum trees in our small sloping south west facing paddock. 2 eaters – 2 cooking – and 2 plums.  What type do you recommend please.
We live in Ripponden South Pennines.

Krystyna Demkowicz

Lanes Nursery: information please?

Lane’s Prince Albert apples; a culinary variety raised before 1841 by Thomas Squire and introduced by nurseryman John Lane c 1850

I am researching the Lanes who were nurserymen in Berkhamsted (c1780-1960) and competed against Paul, Bunyard, Laxton et al through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Have you come across Henry Lane, John Edward Lane, or even Frederick Quincey Lane in your researches? If so I would like to hear from you. Thank you and happy wassailing.

Louise Keil

Distinctive Pear Tree

Ancient re-worked pear tree in Kent

Kent has fruit growing areas on suitable soils in North Kent, the High Weald and along the Greensand (Kentish ragstone) scarp slope which runs east / west through the centre of the county.  The Greensand slopes are currently being planted with extensive orchards and soft fruit as it is on the spring line and irrigation reservoirs are easily formed to catch the spring water.  

I have been helping with the restoration of an ancient farmhouse and its grounds for four years or so and a lot of earth moving has been necessary due to soil slip on the spring line.  Luckily we have been able to save some of the trees in the now old orchards.  There are three standard pear trees amongst the Worcester Pearmain and Red Bramley apples.  Two are rather small but one is much larger and when I saw it in fruit this early October I was surprised to see that there were two completely distinctive cultivars on the two main branches.  One is pale green, to pale yellow for the windfalls, and the other is a flattish shape with a dark brown russet all round. 

I had no idea that double grafting with different cultivars was such an old practice, or could this be a young tree which was reworked with a new cultivar but the old one grew away too?

Tom La Dell