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)

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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!

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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

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Dumelow’s Seedling apple should be spelt Dummeller’s Seedling

Tombstone of Richard Dummeller, Shackerstone churchyard, Leicestershire

The gravestone of Richard Dummeller in Shackerstone Churchyard in the village of that name near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire is of interest to fruit enthusiasts because Dummeller raised the well culinary apple Dumelow’s Seedling and there has long been debate as to how to spell his surname. In 1884, the eminent Victorian pomologist Dr Robert Hogg spelt it ‘Dumelow’s, but he also wrote that ‘This excellent apple was raised by a person of the name Dumeller (pronounced Dumelow), a farmer in Shakerstone’ in his Fruit Manual. Although he had known the apple for decades and it is recorded in the first 1866 edition of his Manual. A different spelling was used by Edward Bunyard the foremost authority of the 1920-30s. Bunyard records it as Dummelous Seedlling and credits its origin to Mr Dummelow. Other variants have appeared in fruit lists. But it seems that to honour its raiser the spelling should be Dummeller and the village name is Shackerstone!

Jim Arbury

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Korbinian’s apple/Korbiniansapfe

 

Korbiniansapfe/Korbinian’s apple, raised by Korbinian Aigner (1885-1966), a Bavarian priest

 

I read your article about Korbinian Apple and am looking to get a tree or scion wood …. any idea or help in finding such would be appreciated. Although I know it will become a different variety, I would ultimately settle for finding seeds, but that isn’t my ideal. The story of Father Korbinian is great and I want to celebrate that.

Matt Jackson

Korbiniansapfe/Korbinian’s apple was raised by Korbinian Aigner (1885-1966), a Bavarian priest, between 1941 and 1945 when he was a prisoner in a German concentration camp; it became widely planted in Bavaria, but was not named until 1985. For more details see our main website and here : The Apple Priest Korbinian Aigner.   At the bottom of this article a number of German nurseries selling trees are listed

Info@BaumschuleRitthaler.de
schwerdtfeger-obst@t-online.de
pflanzlust@t-online.de

 

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Railway Star apple: found alongside a railway line

Spoorwegster or Railway Star apple

Spoorwegster, meaning Railway Star, is the latest chance apple seedling to enter nursery lists. It was spotted growing alongside a railway line in Limburg, Belgium by Joseph Grouwels, who took some cuttings and grafted new trees for his garden. Grouwels brought this brilliantly colourful apple to the notice of the NBS (Nationale Boogaartenstichting). They were impressed, propagated trees and included it in the list of varieties they sell. As well as being remarkable for its colour, Spoorwegster/Railway Star apple will keep well into the New Year, even in amateur stores. Probably a seedling of the famous Belgian apple Reinette Rouge Etoilé, which it resembles, except that it lasts longer and is a more striking colour. The star-shaped ‘dots’, lenticels, which give Reinette Rouge Etoilé its name, however, are less prominent. Its taste is said to be good.

Fruit Forum

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Fruit Blossom 2017

Early Rivers cherry at the National Fruit Collection, Kent.

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 30^th March – earlier than the 10^th April noted for last year; the current 10 year mean (the average full bloom date) for Victoria is 8^th 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 23^rd April last year and Lapins’ 10-year mean is 16^th 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: 29^th March (10% open); 30^th March (full flower);

Czar: 20^th March (10% open); 26^th March (full flower);

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 22^nd March (10% open); 24^th March (full flower);

Farleigh Damson: 25^th March (10% open); 28^th March (full flower);

Marjorie’s Seedling: 30^th March (10% open); 1^st April (full flower);

Oullins Gage: 28^th March (10% open); 30^th March (full flower);

Pershore Yellow Egg: 26^th March (10% open); 28^th March (full flower);

Victoria: 28^th March (10% open); 30^th March (full flower);

 

PEAR

Concorde: 5^th April (10% open);

Conference: 2^nd April (10% open); 5^th April (full flower);

Doyenné du Comice: 3^rd April (10% open); 5^th April (full flower);

Louise Bonne of Jersey: 28^th March (10% open); 30^th March (full flower);

 

CHERRY

Early Rivers: 30^th March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower);

Hertford: 3^rd April (10% open);

Lapins: 30^th March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower);

Merchant: 4^th April (10% open);

Stella: 5^th 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: 31^st March (10% open); 2^nd April (full flower);

St. Edmund’s Pippin:

Worcester Pearmain:

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West Country Apple grown during WWII – suggestions please?

Can anyone help me find this rare apple variety, grown in the West Country during WWII, the fruit is the size of a large grapefruit and yellowish in colour. By all accounts the most delicious variety ever. Any ideas?

John Denham

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Growing Apples in Tanzania?

Fuji apple growing in southern California; recommended for growing in a warm climate by Kevin Hauser, who kindly supplied the picture.

I wish to grow apples, but my question is: is it possible to grow them in Tanzania?. And what are the procedures to grow apples? And what kind of seed is growing in Tanzania. Where can I get it and how much?

Hassan Nahoda

For more information on growing apples in a warm climate see our main website for an article by Kevin Hauser: http://www.fruitforum.net/apples-in-a-warm-climate.htm and also visit his own website: http://www.kuffelcreek.com/applenursery.htm

Kevin Hauser has nurseries in California and Uganda: Kuffel Creek Apple Nursery, Southern California, USA; Nakifuma, Uganda, East Africa.

Apple trees growing near Kampala, Uganda (see comment by Kevin Hauser below).

Apple trees growing in Congo (see Hauser comment below)

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The Apple: how did it become so ubiquitous?

Discovery apple

The random thought popped into my head today that apples seem to be the most ubiquitous fruit, and that anecdotes about other fruit are always compared to apples. Pomegranates are ‘Chinese apples’, peaches are ‘Persian apples’, etc.

Just how did apples become so ubiquitous?

Walter Jones

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