APPLES - COOKING VARIETIES

(B) EMNETH EARLY (Early Victoria)

Early variety for picking late July and August. Soft, greenish white flesh that cooks well. An excellent variety for its natural earliness. Pollinators include: Greensleeves, Grenadier, James Grieve, Redsleeves, Arthur Turner etc.

(B) GRENADIER

Picking throughout August until September, the fruits are medium/large, round and yellowish green. The flesh is white and crisp and cooks very well. The flavour is excellent. The trees are moderate in growth and crop very regularly. Resistant to Scab. Grenadier is, itself, a very good pollinator for other varieties. Suitable pollinators are: Greensleeves, Redsleeves, Fiesta, Jester, Arthur Turner etc.

(B) ARTHUR TURNER

For eating August to October. The large, greenish yellow fruits excel for baking. A very good cropper that is upright in growth. The spring flowers are especially beautiful, and Arthur Turner is suitable for planting everywhere, including northern England and Scotland. Pollinate with: Greensleeves, Grenadier, Redsleeves, Sunset, Fiesta etc.

(B) KESWICK CODLIN

A really lovely and highly valued old variety which began life being discovered grown on a rubbish heap near Ulverston! It was introduced in 1793 and subsequently became a very prevalent early cooker of the 19th century and a popular market variety. Little seen these days, it is a pale green, yellow flushed apple with a cream flesh. The flavour is so sweet it seldom needs sugar and it cooks to a juicy cream froth. It is a variety of great culinary value, having been recommended for jellies and is suitable for many purposes. The tree is compact and the blossom very attractive. Ready for picking mid August and for use through to October. Good pollinators include: Kidds Orange, Sunset, Greensleeves, Laxton Superb, Tom Putt etc.

(C) SCOTCH DUMPLING

A variety which came from Scotland in the 1940s. The large fruits cook to a wonderful fresh flavoured froth and are ready for use from late August, often keeping until November. The tree is moderately vigorous and spreading. Very attractive large rose pink blossom.

(B) TOM PUTT

Hardly a new variety as Tom Putt was raised in the 1700s by the Rector of Trent in Somerset, the Rev. Tom Putt. Picking early September the fruits keep well into November, the tough skin has a sweetly scented aroma and the greenish white flesh is crisp and juicy. Listed as a cooking variety, Tom Putt is often eaten as dessert and is useful for making cider. A very versatile apple that is a good reliable cropper. Excels on dwarf rootstock M27. Pollinators include: Redsleeves, Fiesta, James Grieve etc.

(B) WHITE MELROSE

An old Scottish variety. The very unusual large, very pale whitish yellow fruits have a rich sweet-sharp flavour and keep some of their shape when cooked. It is a heavy cropping, moderately vigorous tree. For picking in September and use until November. An excellent desert apple later on in season. Pollinate with Saturn, Redsleeves, Destivale etc.

(C) PEASGOOD NONSUCH

A useful garden and exhibition variety. Very good flavour, slightly acid, but still sweet. Very large fruits. Golden with flushed red stripes. Strong aroma. Superb for baking. Season late September to December.

(C) RED PEASGOOD NONSUCH

A richly pink flushed selection of the above variety, very attractive.

(C) THE QUEEN

Raised by a farmer in Essex in 1858 and once a popular garden apple, rather hard to find these days. A large, very pale yellow fruit partly covered with crimson flushes and stripes, the flesh cooks to a wonderful translucent yellow puree, the flavour sharp, juicy and powerful. Also bakes well. A good copper on a tree of moderate vigour, season mid September until December. Still highly sought after in the Essex area.

(T) WARNERS KING

Known since the 1700's no less. A large pale green conical to round apple which turns pale yellow towards the end of its season. The fresh green tinged white flesh has a very fine rich flavour and the fruits should be harvested in September, keeping well into December.

(C) GOLDEN NOBLE

For eating October/December. Golden Noble was discovered in 1820, just a mile from our nursery here at Downham Market. A first class, creamy white flesh that is sweet and juicy. Upright, spreading tree. Moderate cropper. Golden fruits that often have a rosy cheek. Pollinators include: Charles Ross, Howgate Wonder etc.

(B) NORFOLK BEEFING

We are fortunate and very pleased to be able to offer stock of this famous, sought after and truly excellent old variety. Norfolk 'Bif fin' as it is known, was popular amongst Norwich bakers and was frequently dispatched to London fruitiers as a great delicacy. The large handsome fruits are dark green heavily flushed with dark mahogany red and may be used from early October. In store they last and last, by March becoming sweet enough for dessert use. Cooked, they are superb for all purposes and seldom need sugar. Stewed, they keep their shape, and is considered THE apple for slow baking, developing a rich and unmistakable flavour, they have been used in the production of apple crisps – and also for cider making. The Trees are fairly vigorous and eager to please with very heavy crops. Some thinning is necessary in years of over exuberance! Highly recommended -although we should not really say this as stocks are only just sufficient for us to list it! We hope to build stocks to more favourable levels in subsequent years. Our grateful thanks to Mrs Mahalsky. Wide range of pollinators are suitable.

(B) SCOTCH BRIDGET

Very hardy variety first known in 1851. The rich creamy flesh has an excellent texture and a sweet flavour which needs no sugar, maintaining good quality until Christmas. Excellent stewed or baked, a valuable, durable Tree which does well in Northern areas. Its frost tolerance was highly coveted at that time. Harvest in early October, Pollinate with Bountiful, Norfolk Beefing, Laxton Superb etc.

(T) JUMBO - A 1B 20Z COOKING APPLE - NEW

Aptly named for the awesome size of its fruits but far from just a novelty or exhibition variety, although it would surely also find fame on the showbench! Jumbo is inarguably the most valuable kitchen apple to be introduced for many years, and the tree itself is reliable, frost hardy and productive. From 4 fruits an astonishing average weight of 1lb 2ozs was recorded. These immense heavyweights are gloriously coloured rosy crimson on an olive green background and have a very even flat-conical shape. The green-white flesh has cooked to perfection in so many recipes and has a beautiful sweet flavour which never needs sugar. When simmered or stewed the flesh has a wonderful translucent appearance and is tender yet the individual pieces retain their shape every time. The flavour is distinctly 'fruity' and with just a hint of peardrops! Jumbo bakes to perfection, makes a perfect apple pie and, if all that wasn't enough, can be enjoyed as a dessert apple later on in season (cut into wedges perhaps!) In store these collosus last and last. Brought into a fridge in early October, the fruits were still being enjoyed in early March with virtually no loss of flavour or texture. As a garden tree it has a round headed habit and is not as vigorous as Bramley. It spurs freely and will also do well as a space saving supercolumn. A triploid, the noticeably large and attractive blossoms are easily pollinated by most other mid season flowering varieties. A very heavily cropping tree, for one so large, the sight of so many huge, colourful apples awaiting harvest in the late Autumn sunlight is truly a vision to gladen the heart! Jumbo is an outstanding, unique and priceless addition to any serious fruit grower or Kitchen master. One of the proudest moments of our long history in growing and introducing fruiting plants to UK home gardeners is with the introduction of this variety. Very highly recommended. Please add £1.00 extra to the price for Jumbo.

(B) GOLDEN PIPPIN

Famous for Pippin jelly, tarts and cider so a useful and versatile addition to the cooks repertoire. A small apple of bright golden yellow which may be poached whole, the flavour is intense, acidic and with a faint lemony aroma. The season is October - March. Pollinate with Red Windsor, Falstaff, Exeter X, Cornish Gilliflower, James Grieve, White Knight etc.

(B) CATSHEAD

An extremely old and very interesting variety dating from 1629. The pale green to yellow flat to oblong fruits have been described as 'conveniently box-shaped for parceling into dumplings! The flesh will cook to a fairly sharp, firm puree. For picking in October; will store through to January Pollinate with: Sunset, Kent, Pixie etc.

(D) HEREFORD BEEFING

Introduced for our more Northerly customers in response to the huge popularity of our own Norfolk Beefing, which has exceeded all expectations! Hereford Beefing was first known in the 1700's no less and is a variety of great value for gardens today. A moderately sized greenish yellow apple decorated in red flushes and stripes, it has a good sharp flavour at first which sweetens with storage. The flesh turns an attractive bright yellow when cooked, good for dishes where the appearance of the fruit is important - e.g. open tarts etc. Very fine flavour. Pick in early October and use until Christmas. A neat upright, productive tree, the late flowering period ensures useful Frost evasion. A tip bearer, best grown as a bush/tree. Pollinate with Newton Wonder, Ashmeads Kernel, Spartan, Pixie etc.

(T) BRAMLEY'S SEEDLING

The most popular culinary variety for late autumn picking, and will store until late February with ease. Previously considered too large for the garden, but not so with the new dwarfing rootstocks. Bramley has responded very well to the new rootstocks which make very manageable trees with an increase in fruit size. The large fruits are green to yellow-green and the creamy white flesh is superb for cooking. The trees are vigorous with stout branches, forming a spreading tree. Bramley is a triploid, so two other pollinating varieties are needed, of which the choice is very wide. Ideal pollinators are: Grenadier, Sunset, Cox, Jester, Redsleeves, Spartan, Howgate, Fiesta and Greensleeves. Superb on rootstock M27. All our Bramley Trees are now propagated only from the recently authenticated ‘original’ Bramley for the most genuine trueto-
name. Stock available.

(C) WELLINGTON

The most popular cooker of Victorian times and much sought after today. A medium large pale greenish to yellow-white apple with occasional variably coloured flushes and stripes. Cooked it has been likened to Bramley with the same sharp flavour but the flesh is more finely textured. Excellent baker. Keeps its fine qualities right through until April. “Dumelows Seedling' is synonymous. Pollinate with Howgate Wonder, Charles Ross, Pixie, Golden Noble etc.

(B) BOUNTIFUL

A new variety from East Malling. Compact fertile trees. The fruits are sweeter than many other culinary varieties. A good pollinator. The fruits are large, yellowish green with a brown/orange flush. Very heavy cropping. Stored fruits of Bountiful can be eaten as dessert in late winter.

(C) SANDRINGHAM

We are very pleased to have finally acquired stock of this very old variety which was indeed raised at the Royal Estate so close to our Nursery here in Norfolk. Believed to be a Winter Pearmain Seedling, it makes a moderately vigorous spreading tree with large fruits which should be harvested in Mid October, for use from November to March. When cooked the flesh turns to a very intensely flavoured cream puree at first, lighter and more subtly flavoured as the season progresses. It can also be used as an eater when fully ripe. The outstandingly attractive very dark pink blossom is a feature of this variety. Pollinate with Greensleeves, Charles Ross, Lanes Prince Albert etc.

(C) HOWGATE WONDER

For picking early November and stores well into the new year. Often produces blossom late, so is very suitable for frosty areas and the north. The very large golden yellow fruits have a crisp, creamy flesh, and the flavour is good. Among suitable pollinators are: Golden Delicious, Lord Derby, Tydeman, Late Orange, Greensleeves and Redsleeves. One of the very best cookers.

(C) LORD DERBY

Late variety. Very large fruits, white flesh turning a delicate pink when cooked. Excellent flavour. Suitable pollinators include: Charles Ross, Gloster 69, Orleans etc.

(A) REV. W. WILKS

September/October picking. The tender white flesh cooks to a golden froth. Superb for dumplings and baking. Quality exhibition fruits. Not a good pollinator for other varieties. Pollinate with: Irish Peach, Egremont Russet, Lord Lambourne etc.

(D) EDWARD VIL

Only a moderate cropper but the handsome apples, of brightest green, store well into March or April. Flowers late, so is a suitable variety for a frost pocket. For using from December onwards, the fruits are medium sized with flesh that is white, crisp and acid and cooks very well. Pollinate with a late flowering variety such as: Newton Wonder, Lord Derby, Orleans Reinette, Tydeman's Late Orange etc.

(C) MONARCH

Extremely frost resistant blossom. The fruits are olive green, flushed pink and are ready for eating November and store until spring.

(C) LANE'S PRINCE ALBERT

The large fruits are round and conical and are suitable for cooking from January to March. Suitable for growing in the north as it is very reliable. The fruits are pea green in colour, with distinct red stripes. A small spreading tree. Pollinators include: Howgate Wonder, Lord Derby, Orleans Reinette, Ashmeads Kernel etc.

(D) NEWTON WONDER

For use from November to March. The fruits have exceptional flavour when cooked and can also be eaten for dessert. Grows well everywhere including north and west. Flowers late. Pollinate with: Tydeman Late Orange, Orleans Reinette, Ashmead's Kernel, Howgate Wonder etc. Excels on the dwarfing rootstocks.

(C) ANNIE ELIZABETH

For eating December to June. An excellent late keeping variety with a dry textured fruit that cooks well. We have many more varieties in small quantities. just some of which are listed after the prices. Your choice. however. will normally come from the above varieties.