COMMUNITY ORCHARD FRUIT TREE IDENTIFICATION

PEARS

BEURRE HARDY PEAR (PYRUS COMMUNIS)

  • ORIGIN: France 1820. Raised by Bonnet in Boulogne. It was acquired by the nurseryman Jamin in 1830. He named the variety after Hardy, Director of the Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris.
  • TYPE: Dessert. Medium size
  • PICKING TIME: October
  • SEASON OF USE: October
  • CROPPING: Good
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Vigorous/upright
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Scab resistant
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: One of the finest dessert pears. Tender, juicy and sweet with a hint of rosewater. Has a long lifespan, sometimes up to 200 years.

DOYENNE DU COMICE PEAR (PYRUS COMMUNIS)

  • ORIGIN: France 1849.  First grown at The Cornice Horticole in Angers in 1840’s. Introduced into Britain 1858 by Sir Francis Dyke Acland.
  • TYPE: Dessert.
  • PICKING TIME: October
  • SEASON OF USE: November – December
  • CROPPING: Good
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/upright
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Scab – slightly susceptible. Mildew –  slightly resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Grown on small scale in UK, but considered one of the finest desert pears, Juicy, very sweet, with delicious flavour.

BETH PEAR (PYRUS COMMUNIS)

  • ORIGIN: Beth pear was raised by Tydeman at East Malling Research Station, UK in 1938. Named in 1974.
  • TYPE: Dessert Small to medium conical shaped fruit. Pleasant sweet flavour.
  • PICKING TIME: Late August. One of the earliest pears to ripen.
  • SEASON OF USE: August – September
  • CROPPING: Heavy
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Small, Upright
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Some resistance to scab
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Reliable and heavy cropper which starts producing fruit at a young age.

APPLES

TYDEMAN’S LATE ORANGE. (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 1930 . Raised from Laxton’s Superb apple and Cox’s Orange Pippin apple by H M Tydeman at the East Malling Research Station. Introduced in 1949. Received the RHS Award of Merit in 1965.
  • TYPE: Late dessert variety. Small to Medium sized.
  • PICKING TIME: Mid October.
  • SEASON OF USE: December – April. Needs to be kept in storage for sharpness to mellow. Best stored in polythene bags as it has tendency to shrivel.
  • CROPPING: Heavy. Thinning may be required at times to produce good sized fruit.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Vigorous/Upright – Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Scab resistant. Mildew resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Creamy yellow, crisp, and juicy flesh.

HEREFORDSHIRE RUSSET APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 2003. Bred by Hugh Erman, at Brogdale. Cross between a Cox and Golden Delicious.
  • TYPE: Dessert. Flavour aromatic. Fruit size medium.
  • PICKING TIME:  Late September.
  • SEASON OF USE: October -January.
  • CROPPING: Heavy
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/upright – spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: A new variety combining aromatic flavour of a Cox with a Golden Russet skin.

JUMBO APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 2000. Bred by Hugh Erman, Brogdale. From a cross between a Charles Ross apple and a Jonathon apple.  
  • TYPE: Dual purpose culinary and dessert. Particularly good for baking, retains its colour.
  • PICKING TIME: Mid October
  • SEASON OF USE: October – March
  • CROPPING: Heavy
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Vigorous / Upright – Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: None

RED FALSTAFF APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 1986 – Cross between a James Grieve apple and Golden Delicious apple. Bred at East Malling Research Station.
  • TYPE: Dessert.
  • PICKING TIME: Early October
  • SEASON OF USE: October – December
  • CROPPING: Heavy.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/upright. Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Crisp and juicy. One of the most popular modern garden varieties.

WINTER GEM APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 1985. Bred by Hugh Erman, at Brogdale from a variety of Cox’s Orange Pippin.
  • TYPE: Dessert. With aromatic flavour. Fruit size medium.
  • PICKING TIME: October.
  • SEASON OF USE: October – January.
  • CROPPING: Good.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/upright. Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: An attractive sweet, 1ate ripening apple with good keeping qualities.

SUNSET APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 1918 – Raised from a Cox’s apple by G C Addy, lgtham, Kent. Named and introduced in 1933. Received RHS Award of Merit in 1960.
  • TYPE: Dessert apple. Small to medium size. Moderately juicy, sweet but plenty of acid  Flavour similar to Cox apple.
  • PICKING TIME: Late September.
  • SEASON OF USE: October – December
  • CROPPING: Sometimes requiring thinning to produce good size fruit.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/upright – Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Canker – susceptible. Scab – resistant .
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Moderately juicy, sweet but plenty of acid. Flavour similar to a Cox. An excellent garden substitute for Cox particularly in regions where a Cox cannot be grown .

ADAMS PEARMAIN APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Norfolk 1826. First brought to notice by Robert Adams who had obtained the variety from Norfolk and referred to it as the Norfolk Pippin. Other sources believe it originated in Herefordshire where it was known as Hanging Pearman. Popular commercial variety in Victorian times because of its handsome.
    appearance .
  • TYPE: Dessert. Medium sized.
  • PICKING TIME: Mid October.
  • SEASON OF USE: November – March.
  • CROPPING: Good.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Small. Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Scab resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Fairly rough skin. fairly dry crisp creamy white flesh. Nutty flavour similar to Egremont Russet.

BOUNTIFUL APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Kent 1964. Raised by Dr F Alston at East Malling Research Station from Cox’s orange pippin pollinated probably by Lane’s Prince Albert apple. Introduced by Highfield Nurseries Gloucestershire in 1985.
  • TYPE: Culinary – Large fruit.
  • PICKING TIME: Late September.
  • SEASON OF USE: September – November.
  • CROPPING: Heavy.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate / Upright- Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Mildew – very resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Mildly flavoured flesh. Keeps some shape when cooked.
    Sharpness mellows in storage and can be used as a dessert apple.

SCRUMPTIOUS APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA) 

  • ORIGIN: Kent- 1980’S. Raised by Hugh Erman at Brogdale from Golden Delicious apple and Discovery apple.
  • TYPE: Dessert. Honey flavoured.
  • PICKING TIME: September.
  • SEASON OF USE: September.
  • CROPPING: Heavy.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate/Upright – Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Scab resistant. Mildew resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Early dessert apple with a fragrant honeyed flavour.

OTHER FRUIT

DAMSON (PRUNUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Various theories . A possible hint of its original name ‘ The plum of Damascus’, it is believed to have been introduced into Britain by the Romans as stones have been found at various Roman campsites around the country .
    Possible a cross between a sloe and cherry plum. The specimen in the orchard was self sown in a private garden, some 3 years ago.
  • TYPE: Culinary.
  • PICKING TIME: August/September.
  • SEASON OF USE: August/September.
  • CROPPING: Good.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate / Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Susceptible to mildew, bacterial Spot and verticillium wilt.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Used for jams, damson cheese, chutney, gin and many
    other culinary uses.

MORELLO CHERRY (PRUNUS CERASUS) 

  • ORIGIN: Unknown. Grown in Britain for over 400 years. Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The 2 specimens in the orchard are self sown in a private garden, around 3 years old.
  • TYPE: Culinary.
  • PICKING TIME: July – August.
  • SEASON OF USE: Mid – late July.
  • CROPPING: Reliable.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate /  Spreading.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: Very acidic, full flavour good for pies, jams, tarts and general flavouring.

OULLINS GAGE (PRUNUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: France 1856. Original tree discovered by chance in 1850’S at Coligny near Lyons. So there is no record of its parents . The first man to sell the tree commercially was Monsieur Massot of Oullins near Lyons sometime around 1856 . He named the tree after his home town of Oullins.
  • TYPE: Dual culinary / dessert. Flavour sweet. Fruit size medium large. Also called Reine Claude d’Oullins or Oullins Golden Gage.
  • PICKING TIME: August.
  • SEASON OF USE: Mid August.
  • CROPPING: Moderate.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Vigorous / Upright.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Bacterial Canker – slightly resistant.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: None

VICTORIA PLUM (PRUNUS DOMESTICA)

  • ORIGIN: Sussex 1840. Named after Queen Victoria. Original seedling found in a garden at Alderton, Sussex. It was bought by Denyer, a nurseryman from Brixton who introduced the variety. Awarded a First Class certificate by the RHS in 1973.
  • TYPE: Dual culinary / dessert. Flavour sweet. Medium large size.
  • PICKING TIME: Late August.
  • SEASON OF USE: Late August.
  • CROPPING: Very heavy.
  • TREE VIGOUR/HABIT: Moderate / Long spreading branches.
  • DISEASE RESISTANCE: Bacterial Canker and Silver leaf- very susceptible.
  • SPECIAL FEATURES: A very popular dessert plum. Even better a culinary plum producing a lovely pink syrup and an almond aroma when cooked.