As we have done for a number of years, we publish the flowering dates for the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, Kent, undertaken and kindly supplied by Lorinda Jewsbury. These are the records for a selection of varieties (standards and any new accessions) from all the tree fruit collections at Brogdale.
An early start to the warm weather has really brought on the flowering for this year, as I’m sure you’re aware. The plums are roughly a couple of weeks earlier compared to last year. As an example, Victoria was in full bloom this year on 30th March – earlier than the 10th April noted for last year; the current 10 year mean (the average full bloom date) for Victoria is 8th April.
Although a number of the cherries in the Collection have yet to come into flower, the earlier varieties, again, have responded to the warm weather and Lapins reached full bloom on the 2nd April. It was the 23rd April last year and Lapins’ 10-year mean is 16th April.
The pear orchard is a sea of white once more as the trees have responded to the temperatures. Louise Bonne of Jersey, one of the early flowerers in the Pear Collection, was in full bloom on the 30th March. Last year saw it at full bloom on the 15th April, pretty much spot on for its average of 14th April.
The apples are just setting off and, of the early flowerers, Red Astrachan and Stark’s Earliest are already in full bloom. There is still a way to go yet with the Apple Collection and with the weather forecast to be a little cooler after the weekend there may be a fair gap this year between the early and late flowering varieties.
Lorinda Jewsbury
2017
PLUM
Cambridge Gage: 29th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower);
Czar: 20th March (10% open); 26th March (full flower);
Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22nd March (10% open); 24th March (full flower);
Farleigh Damson: 25th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower);
Marjorie’s Seedling: 30th March (10% open); 1st April (full flower);
Oullins Gage: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower);
Pershore Yellow Egg: 26th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower);
Victoria: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower);
PEAR
Concorde: 5th April (10% open);
Conference: 2nd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower);
Doyenné du Comice: 3rd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower);
Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower);
CHERRY
Early Rivers: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
Hertford: 3rd April (10% open);
Lapins: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
Merchant: 4th April (10% open);
Stella: 5th April (10% open);
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: 31st March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
St. Edmund’s Pippin:
Worcester Pearmain:
2017
PLUM
Cambridge Gage: 29th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 13th April (90% petal fall)
Czar: 20th March (10% open); 26th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22nd March (10% open); 24th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Farleigh Damson: 25th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Marjorie’s Seedling: 30th March (10% open); 1st April (full flower);
Oullins Gage: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower);
Pershore Yellow Egg: 26th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Victoria: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 6th April (90% petal fall)
PEAR
Concorde: 5th April (10% open); 6th April (full flower);
Conference: 2nd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower);
Doyenne du Comice: 3rd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower);
Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
CHERRY
Early Rivers: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
Hertford: 3rd April (10% open); 7th April (full flower);
Lapins: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
Merchant: 4th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower);
Stella: 5th April (10% open); 7th April (full flower);
Sunburst: 8th April (10% open); 9th April (full flower);
APPLE
Blenheim Orange: 11th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower);
Bramley’s Seedling: 10th April (10% open);
Cox’s Orange Pippin: 12th April (10% open);
Crawley Beauty:
Discovery: 9th April (10% open); 12th April (full flower);
Egremont Russet: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower);
Falstaff: 13th April (10% open);
Feuillemorte:
Fiesta/Red Pippin:
Gala: 12th April (10% open);
James Grieve: 8th April (10% open); 10th April (full flower);
Jonagold: 11th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower);
Meridian: 9th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower);
Red Astrachan: 31st March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower);
St. Edmund’s Pippin: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower);
Worcester Pearmain:
2017
PLUM
Cambridge Gage: 29th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 13th April (90% petal fall)
Czar: 20th March (10% open); 26th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22nd March (10% open); 24th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Farleigh Damson: 25th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Marjorie’s Seedling: 30th March (10% open); 1st April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Oullins Gage: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Pershore Yellow Egg: 26th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Victoria: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 6th April (90% petal fall)
PEAR
Concorde: 5th April (10% open); 6th April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Conference: 2nd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Doyenne du Comice: 3rd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
CHERRY
Early Rivers: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 18th April (90% petal fall)
Hertford: 3rd April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 20th April (90% petal fall)
Lapins: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Merchant: 4th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Stella: 5th April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 21st April (90% petal fall)
Sunburst: 8th April (10% open); 9th April (full flower); 22nd April (90% petal fall)
APPLE
Blenheim Orange: 11th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower);
Bramley’s Seedling: 10th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Cox’s Orange Pippin: 12th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Crawley Beauty:
Discovery: 9th April (10% open); 12th April (full flower); 27th April (90% petal fall)
Egremont Russet: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Falstaff: 13th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower);
Feuillemorte:
Fiesta/Red Pippin: 17th April (10% open); 20th April (full flower);
Gala: 12th April (10% open); 16th April (full flower);
James Grieve: 8th April (10% open); 10th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Jonagold: 11th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Meridian: 9th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 24th April (90% petal fall)
Red Astrachan: 31st March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 17th April (90% petal fall)
St. Edmund’s Pippin: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Worcester Pearmain: 17th April (10% open); 19th April (full flower);
2017
PLUM
Cambridge Gage: 29th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 13th April (90% petal fall)
Czar: 20th March (10% open); 26th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22nd March (10% open); 24th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Farleigh Damson: 25th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Marjorie’s Seedling: 30th March (10% open); 1st April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Oullins Gage: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Pershore Yellow Egg: 26th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Victoria: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 6th April (90% petal fall)
PEAR
Concorde: 5th April (10% open); 6th April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Conference: 2nd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Doyenne du Comice: 3rd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
CHERRY
Early Rivers: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 18th April (90% petal fall)
Hertford: 3rd April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 20th April (90% petal fall)
Lapins: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Merchant: 4th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Stella: 5th April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 21st April (90% petal fall)
Sunburst: 8th April (10% open); 9th April (full flower); 22nd April (90% petal fall)
APPLE
Blenheim Orange: 11th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower); 28th April (90% petal fall)
Bramley’s Seedling: 10th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Cox’s Orange Pippin: 12th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Crawley Beauty:
Discovery: 9th April (10% open); 12th April (full flower); 27th April (90% petal fall)
Egremont Russet: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Falstaff: 13th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower); 29th April (90% petal fall)
Feuillemorte:
Fiesta/Red Pippin: 17th April (10% open); 20th April (full flower); 1st May (90% petal fall)
Gala: 12th April (10% open); 16th April (full flower); 28th April (90% petal fall)
James Grieve: 8th April (10% open); 10th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Jonagold: 11th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Meridian: 9th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 24th April (90% petal fall)
Red Astrachan: 31st March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 17th April (90% petal fall)
St. Edmund’s Pippin: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Worcester Pearmain: 17th April (10% open); 19th April (full flower); 2nd May (90% petal fall)
2017
PLUM
Cambridge Gage: 29th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 13th April (90% petal fall)
Czar: 20th March (10% open); 26th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22nd March (10% open); 24th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
Farleigh Damson: 25th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Marjorie’s Seedling: 30th March (10% open); 1st April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Oullins Gage: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Pershore Yellow Egg: 26th March (10% open); 28th March (full flower); 8th April (90% petal fall)
Victoria: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 6th April (90% petal fall)
PEAR
Concorde: 5th April (10% open); 6th April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Conference: 2nd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Doyenne du Comice: 3rd April (10% open); 5th April (full flower); 16th April (90% petal fall)
Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28th March (10% open); 30th March (full flower); 7th April (90% petal fall)
CHERRY
Early Rivers: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 18th April (90% petal fall)
Hertford: 3rd April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 20th April (90% petal fall)
Lapins: 30th March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 15th April (90% petal fall)
Merchant: 4th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Stella: 5th April (10% open); 7th April (full flower); 21st April (90% petal fall)
Sunburst: 8th April (10% open); 9th April (full flower); 22nd April (90% petal fall)
APPLE
Blenheim Orange: 11th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower); 28th April (90% petal fall)
Bramley’s Seedling: 10th April (10% open); 14th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Cox’s Orange Pippin: 12th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Crawley Beauty: 13th May (10% open); 15th May (full flower); 21st May (90% petal fall)
Discovery: 9th April (10% open); 12th April (full flower); 27th April (90% petal fall)
Egremont Russet: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Falstaff: 13th April (10% open); 17th April (full flower); 29th April (90% petal fall)
Feuillemorte: 22nd May (10% open); 25th May (full flower);
Fiesta/Red Pippin: 17th April (10% open); 20th April (full flower); 1st May (90% petal fall)
Gala: 12th April (10% open); 16th April (full flower); 28th April (90% petal fall)
James Grieve: 8th April (10% open); 10th April (full flower); 23rd April (90% petal fall)
Jonagold: 11th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 25th April (90% petal fall)
Meridian: 9th April (10% open); 13th April (full flower); 24th April (90% petal fall)
Red Astrachan: 31st March (10% open); 2nd April (full flower); 17th April (90% petal fall)
St. Edmund’s Pippin: 6th April (10% open); 8th April (full flower); 19th April (90% petal fall)
Worcester Pearmain: 17th April (10% open); 19th April (full flower); 2nd May (90% petal fall)