Information
Species: Malus domestica Borkh.
Use: Dessert apple
Ploidy: Self-fertile
Pollination Group: C
Cultivar Group: 3 (based on growth to-date)
Bearing: Spur
Blossom: (notes to follow)
Season: Late August to mid-Sept
More Info: Keepers / OrangePippin / Pomiferous
Tree Source: Peter Nichol, Northern Fruit Group
Rootstock: MM106
Planting Size: 2 yr ols feathered maiden
Planting Date: 8th February 2018
Gallery
Notes & Observations
Background – Developed at East Malling in the 1980s and released in 1997. Parentage ‘Starkspur Golden Delicious’ x ‘PRI 1235’ (a scab-resistant experimental variety).
Season 2019 – Cropped well.
7.5.20 – Masses of blossom, thinning required (and subsequently carried out).
13.8.20 – Very good fruit set, 60+ fruits. Spur-bearing on long branches, natural arching occurring under the fruit-weight. Some insect & bird damage, but to be expected.
Season 2020 – Fruit was plentiful but a little insipid if picked too early. Longer ripening resulted in a sweeter apple, but still not a remarkable flavour. Pleasant, but not great-tasting.
Winter 2021 – Growth a bit chaotic; lots of horizontal branches, no obvious leader. Distinct tip-branching where previously pruned, quite spindly re-growth. Some potential fruit buds formed. Pruned to control and thin re-growth, thinning cuts only.