Cambridgeshire apple varieties
Page last updated: 18 September 2012
Information taken from East of England Apples and Orchards Project (EEAOP) site. We are buying a lot of our trees from EEAOP.
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Dessert Apples
| Variety |
First recorded |
Pick |
Use |
In orchard |
- Lord Peckover
- Arose at Peckover House gardens in Wisbech. Red flushed and can be large in size. Skin has a peach-like white bloom. A very early dessert variety, best eaten in August.
|
1926 |
Aug |
Aug |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Lady Hollendale
- Probably arose in the Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire or Norfolk Fens since it was being grown for the Wisbech fruit markets in the 1920-30s. An early season crisp and juicy red apple, best picked and eaten in August.
|
pre 1920 |
Mid Aug |
Mid/late Aug |
Planted in February 2013 |
- St. Everard
- An early dessert apple bred at Papworth Everard Hall gardens by crossing the varieties Margil and Cox’s Orange Pippin. Small to medium in size. Distinctly flushed dark red with an aromatic taste.
|
pre 1900 |
Early Sept |
Sept-Oct |
To be planted in February 2014 |
- Wayside
- A seedling of the variety Charles Ross. Raised by Miss Cunningham of ‘Wayside’, Huntington Road, Cambridge. Distinctive fruity-tasting crisp flesh.
|
1930 |
Late Sept |
Oct-Nov |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Histon Favourite
- Raised by John Chivers of Histon. Pale yellow skinned with a scattering of pink stripes. Sharp and crisp flavour when picked, mellowing with storage.
|
mid 1800s |
Late Sept |
Oct-Dec |
Two trees, planted in February 2013 |
- Thoday’s Quarrenden
- Discovered growing at Willingham by nurseryman Mr. Ralph Thoday. It is probably a seedling of the dessert variety Devonshire Quarrenden. Small sized. Bright red skinned. It will keep until February.
|
1949 |
Early Oct |
Nov-Feb |
To be planted in February 2014 |
- Perfection
- Raised by Seabrook & Son of Boreham, Essex, for Eric Wallis of Bluntisham, by crossing the varieties Cox’s Orange Pippin and Worcester Pearmain. A medium to large sized yellow skinned apple with a bright red flush. Very crisp and juicy.
|
c.1960 |
Mid Oct |
Oct-Nov |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Chiver’s Delight
- Raised by Stephen Chivers of Histon. A medium to large sized dull green skinned apple that is occasionally flushed golden brown. Aromatic and crisp flesh.
|
c.1920 |
Mid Oct |
Nov-Jan |
Two trees, planted in February 2013 |
- Cockett’s Red
- A long keeping small red flushed variety that once grew mainly in the Wisbech area. Known in the past as Marguerite Henrietta and locally as ‘One Bite’. Very sharp when first picked but mellows after storage.
|
pre 1910 |
Pick mid Oct |
Nov-Jan/Feb |
Undecided |
- Barnack Beauty
- A long keeping eating apple raised at Barnack. Received RHS awards in 1899 and 1909. Medium sized and slightly oblong with an eye catching orange brown flush. Attractive blossom. A sweet and complex tasting apple. Has good resistance to scab.
|
c.1840 |
Pick mid Oct |
Use Dec-Mar |
Undecided |
- New Rock Pippin
- Raised by William Pleasance in the Barnwell area of Cambridge and first exhibited in 1821. A spice-like flavour coupled with excellent keeping qualities.
|
1821 |
Mid Oct |
Jan-Mar/May |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Lord Burghley
- Found growing as a seedling tree at Burghley House. Rescued by the Head Gardener and first sold by a Peterborough nurseryman. It became a popular gardeners’ choice. Received an RHS award in 1865 for its long keeping qualities. Sweet tasting. It will keep until April.
|
1834 |
End Oct |
Jan-Apr |
To be planted in February 2014 |
Dual purpose apples
| Variety |
First recorded |
Pick |
Use |
In orchard |
- Huntington Codlin
- Introduced by nurseryman Wood and Ingram of Huntingdon. Pale yellow skinned with a few red stripes. Soft and juicy cream coloured flesh. Not very acidic and will cook to a frothy puree.
|
1883 |
Early Sept |
Sept – Oct/Nov |
To be planted in 2015 |
- Green Harvey
- A long keeping green skinned variety. The sample in the National Fruit Collection was received from Cambridgeshire in 1930. Course fleshed so keeps shape quite well when cooked and needing little sugar.
|
1813 |
Late Oct |
Dec-Feb/Apr |
To be planted in 2015 |
Culinary apples
| Variety |
First recorded |
Pick |
Use |
In orchard |
- Red Victoria
- An early season sharp cooking apple best picked and used in August. It was found growing near Wisbech and introduced by Messrs. Miller of Wisbech in 1908. Resembles a ripe tomato in appearance when ready to pick.
|
1884 |
Aug |
Aug |
Undecided |
- Jolly Miller
- Once popular in the Cottenham area. Possiibly named after the village Public House of the same name where fruit was once traded. A medium sized tall apple with a greasy yellow skin, reddish flush and broken red stripes.
|
1883 |
Late Sept |
Sept-Oct |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Murfitt’s Seedling
- Once popular in the Cottenham and Histon areas, so probably arose in Cambridgeshire. Large and angular with a dull green coloured skin. Holds shape well when cooked and needs virtually no sugar.
|
1883 |
Mid Oct |
Oct-Dec/Jan |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Cottenham Seedling
- Raised by Robert Norman of Cottenham. The variety Dumelow’s Seedling is one of its parents. A long keeping cooking apple once popular with gardeners and commercial growers around Cambridge. Has a delicate pale yellow and slightly greasy skin.
|
1923 |
Mid Oct |
Nov-Mar |
Planted in February 2013 |
- Morley’s Seedling
- A late keeping apple raised by Charles Morley of Fordham by crossing the varieties Alfriston and Lane’s Prince Albert. Can be large in size, with a green coloured skin and occasionally a dull brown flush. Keeps shape well when cooked.
|
pre 1928 |
Mid Oct |
Nov-Jan/Mar |
Undecided |