RHS Award of Garden Merit: Fruit (With Descriptions) 2011

RHS AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT Fruit (with descriptions) 2011

The AGM criteria APPLE (Malus domestica) 98 Alkmene’ (D) (H4) 2 Intended as a practical guide ~ aromatic, Cox-like flavour. Good, for the gardener, the AGM is regular crops; some resistance awarded only to plants that are: to scab and mildew. Season: late Sept.–late Oct. • excellent for ordinary use in ‘American Mother’ appropriate conditions ~ see ‘Mother’ • available 93 ‘Arthur Turner’ (C) (H4) 3 • of good constitution ~ flavoursome cooker. Large, golden • essentially stable in form and exhibition fruit. Good, regular colour crops; prone to mildew; some resistance to scab. Striking, deep • reasonably resistant to pests l i b r a r y

and diseases pink blossom, for which AM 1945. l e y Season: Sept.–Nov. d

4 l i n Key to codes & ratings 93 ‘Ashmead’s Kernel’ (D) (H4) ,

~ intense, fruit-drop flavour. r h s Each award includes a hardiness Cropping erratic; prone to bitter rating, which is an integral part of pit. Season: Dec.–Feb. 93 ‘Claygate Pearmain’ (D) (H4)* 4 the AGM, and should be included 93 ‘Belle de Boskoop’ (C/D) (H4)*‡ 3 ~ rich and nutty flavour. Good, in any citation of the award: ~ needs little or no extra sugar when regular crops, but can be poorly cooked; mellows to brisk eating coloured. Season: Dec.–Feb. H1 requires heated glass apple. Good, regular crops; very 98 Delbarestivale ‘Delcorf’ (D) (H4) 3 H2 requires unheated glass vigorous tree. Season: Oct.–Apr.; ~ bright, attractive fruit; sweet, H3 hardy outside in some regions; keeps well honeyed taste. Heavy, regular needs frost-free protection in 93 ‘Blenheim Orange’ (C/D) (H4)*‡ 3 crops. Season: Sept.–Oct. winter ~ characteristic nutty flavour. Use 93 ‘Discovery’ (D) (H4)* 3 H4 hardy throughout British Isles early for cooking. Some resistance ~ bright red, crisp, juicy; keeps longer to mildew; very vigorous tree; than most earlies. Ornamental Figures to the left of the name partial tip-bearer; light crops. tree. Good, regular crops; partial give the year of the award. Season (C): from late Sept. (D): tip bearer; good resistance to Names in s m a l l c a p i t a l s are trade Oct.–Dec./Jan. scab and mildew. Season: mid designations. See foot of inside 93 ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ (C) (H4)*‡ 3 Aug.–Sept. pages for key to other codes. ~ cooks to very sharp, savoury purée; 93 ‘Dummellor’s Seedling’ (C) (H4) 4 retains acidity to spring. Heavy ~ previously listed as apple AGM material online crops; prone to bitter pit and scab; ‘Dumelow’s Seedling’. Cooks to partial tip bearer; can bear fruit well-flavoured, juicy purée; retains For information about the AGM parthenocarpically; tendency to be acidity to spring. Good, regular and RHS trials, go to: www.rhs. biennial if over-cropped; blossom crops, but fruit can be small for a org.uk/trials. For a full list of susceptible to frost. Very vigorous cooker. Season: Nov.–Apr. AGM plants, go to: www.rhs.org. tree. Season: Nov.–Mar.; stores ‘Early Victoria’ uk/AGMplants well ~ see ’Emneth Early’ 93 ‘Charles Ross’ (C/D) (H4)* 3 Cultivation ~ quite rich flavour; needs no sugar when cooked. Handsome See back page for notes on cul- exhibition fruit. Good, regular Above. Apple ‘Dummellor’s Seedling’ tivation. For more information, crops; hardy tree; some resistance (top), drawn by Alice B. Ellis, from Robert go to: www.rhs.org.uk/advice- to scab. Season: Oct.–Dec. Hogg’s The Herefordshire Pomona search and click on the A–Z link. (1878–1884).

For more information, please write to: AGM Lists, Science Dept, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB [email protected]

93 ‘Emneth Early’ (C) (H4)* 3 93 ‘Grenadier’ (C) (H4)* 3 ~ codlin type, cooking to fluffy purée; ~ cooks to sharp purée. Heavy, needs hardly any sugar. Heavy but regular crops; good disease biennial crops; needs thinning for resistance. Season: Aug.–Sept. size. Some resistance to scab and 93 ‘Idared’ (D) (H4) 2 mildew. Season: Aug.–Sept. ~ crisp apple, with moderate flavour; ‘Epicure’ keeps very well. Good, regular crops; ~ see ‘Laxton’s Epicure’ prone to canker, scab; very prone to 93 ‘Falstaff’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 3 mildew. Season: Nov.–Mar. ~ attractive, crisp fruit. Heavy, regular 93 ‘James Grieve’ (C/D) (H4)* 3 crops; frost-resistant blossom; some ~ savoury, crisp to melting flesh;

l i b r a r y resistance to scab. Good pollinator. when cooked keeps shape, with

Can show poor fruit colour; ‘Red juicy, delicate flavour. Good, l e y d Falstaff’ is more highly coloured regular crops; fruit bruises easily. l i n

, clone. Season: Oct.–Dec. Prone to scab, canker; resistant to r h s 93 ‘Fiesta’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 3 mildew; requires well-drained soil. ~ aromatic, Cox-like flavour. Heavy, Season: Sept.–Oct. and longer regular crops; frost-resistant 93 ‘Jonagold’ (D) (H4)‡ 3 93 ‘Edward VII’ (C) (H4)* 6 blossom; less prone to disease ~ attractive, crisp, honeyed taste; ~ cooks to well-flavoured purée, not than Cox, but can be susceptible large fruit. Heavy, regular crops; as acidic as ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. to scab and develop canker in prone to canker. Fruit can be Large, regular, exhibition fruit. some sites. Season: Oct.–Dec./Jan. poorly coloured, but many more Deep pink blossom; flowers very ‘Fortune’ colourful sports exist. Vigorous. late so escapes frosts; needs late- ~ see ‘Laxton’s Fortune’ Season: Nov.–Jan./Feb.; stores well flowering pollinator. Good, regular 93 ‘George Neal’ (C/D) (H4) 2 93 ‘Jupiter’ (PBR) (D) (H4)*‡ 3 crops; resistant to scab; some ~ brisk eating apple; sweet, delicate ~ Cox-like flavour, but sharper. Heavy resistance to mildew. Season: taste when cooked. Striking, deep crops, but biennial if allowed to Dec.–Apr. pink blossom. Good, regular crops. over-crop; fruit can be irregular 93 ‘Egremont Russet’ (D) (H4)* 2 Season: late Aug.–Sept. shape and heavily russetted. ~ characteristic nutty flavour. Good, 93 ‘Golden Delicious’ (D) (H4) 4 Vigorous. Season: late Oct.–Jan. regular crops; fruit resistant to ~ honeyed, very sweet when well 93 ‘Kidd’s Orange Red’ (D) (H4) 3 scab, but prone to leaf scab; very ripened. Heavy, regular crops; prone ~ very attractive; rich aromatic, prone to bitter pit and woolly to scab. Good pollinator for other perfumed taste. Good, regular aphids. Season: Oct.–Dec. trees; stores well. Season: Nov.–Feb. crops; fruit prone to coarse russet. 93 ‘Ellison’s Orange’ (D) (H4) 4 93 ‘Golden Noble’ (C) (H4) 4 Season: Nov.–Jan. ~ rich, aniseed flavour. Good, regular ~ cooks to a well-flavoured purée, not 93 ‘King of the Pippins’ (C/D) (H4)* 5 crops; some resistance to scab, but as acidic as ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. ~ well ripened, good flavour. Cooked, susceptible to canker. Season: late Attractive blossom. Good, regular keeps shape, flavoursome; Sept.–late Oct. crops; partial tip bearer; some scab suited to open tarts, etc. Heavy, 93 ‘Elstar’ (D) (H4) 3 and mildew resistance. Season: regular crops; upright habit; good ~ intense flavour, honeyed, crisp. Oct.–Dec. and longer resistance to disease; keeps well. Heavy regular crops. Season: late 93 ‘Greensleeves’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 3 Season: Oct.–Dec.; can store to Feb. Oct.–Dec. ~ crisp, brisk, becoming sweeter. 93 ‘King Russet’ (D) (H4) 3 Very precocious and heavy, regular ~ russetted form of ‘King of the crops; needs thinning for good Pippins’. Improved eating quality; fruit size. Blossom has some frost good distinct ‘russet’ flavour. resistance. Can be susceptible to Not as heavy cropping. Season: Above. Apple ‘Blenheim Orange’, drawn scab. Season: late Sept.–Oct.; short Oct.–Dec. by Elizabeth Dowle, 1986. season once picked

H1 requires heated glass H2 requires unheated glass H3 hardy outside in some regions; needs frost-free protection in winter H4 hardy throughout the British Isles * suitable for northerly, colder, higher rainfall areas ‡ triploid (C) culinary (D) dessert Figures to the left of names give the year of the award • Figures in superscript after the name denote the pollination group RHS AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT Fruit 2011 (page 3)

93 ‘Lane’s Prince Albert’ (C) (H4)* 3 93 ‘Peasgood’s Nonsuch’ (C/D) (H4) 3 ~ cooks to brisk purée, not as acidic ~ cooks to sweet, delicately flavoured as ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. Large purée; needs no or little extra fruit. Good, regular crops; fruit sugar. Exhibition apple with large, easily bruised. Hardy; makes neat handsome regular shape. Good, small tree. Resistant to scab; very regular crops; resistance to mildew prone to mildew; prone to canker and red spider; moderate resistance on all but very well-drained soils. to scab. Season: late Sept.–Dec. Season: Nov.–Mar.; stores well 93 ‘Pixie’ (D) (H4)* 4 93 ‘Laxton’s Epicure’ (D) (H4)* 3 ~ intensely aromatic, Cox-like ~ delicate, aromatic, Cox-like flavour. flavour, but sharper and firmer- Heavy, regular crops; needs fleshed. Good to heavy crops, but thinning for size; prone to bitter small fruit unless thinned. Season: l i b r a r y pit, canker. Season: late Aug.–Sept. Dec.–Mar.

2 l e y

Awarded as ‘Epicure’ 93 ‘Ribston Pippin’ (D) (H4)‡ d 3

93 ‘Laxton’s Fortune’ (D) (H4) ~ intense, rich, aromatic flavour; l i n , ~ sweet, lightly aromatic flavour; more acidity and more robust r h s needs to colour well for good than Cox. Good, regular crops; quality. Good crops, but tendency resistant to scab; prone to mildew to be biennial. Fruit bruises easily, and canker. Season: Oct.–Jan. 93 ‘Suntan’ (D) (H4)‡ 5 can be poorly coloured. Prone to 93 ‘Rosemary Russet’ (D) (H4) 3 ~ intensely flavoured, aromatic, but canker, good resistance to scab. ~ sweet-sharp acid-drop taste, can be over-sharp; needs keeping Season: Sept.–Oct. Awarded as resembling ‘Ashmead’s Kernel’. to Dec. to mellow. Good, regular ‘Fortune’ Crops good, regular; vigorous tree crops; prone to bitter pit, canker. 93 ‘Lord Lambourne’ (D) (H4)* 2 with upright habit. Season: Nov./ Late-flowering. Season: Nov./ ~ sweet, juicy, attractive flavour. Dec.–Mar. Dec.–Feb. Skin can become greasy when 93 ‘Royal Gala’ (D) (H4) 4 93 ‘Warner’s King’ (C) (H4)‡ 2 stored. Good, regular crops. Partial ~ more highly coloured form of ~ cooks to well-flavoured purée; not tip bearer; resistant to mildew. ‘Gala’. Sweet, quite honeyed as acidic as ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. Season: late Sept.–Nov. flavour. Heavy, regular crops; Attractive, deep pink blossom. 93 ‘Merton Charm’ (D) (H4) 2 fruit can be small. Prone to scab. Heavy, regular crops; fruit can ~ sweet, crisp to firm flesh, lightly Season: Oct.–Jan.; stores well be very large. Prone to bitter pit. aromatic. Crops heavy, but fruit 93 ‘Saint Edmund’s Pippin’ (D) (H4)* 2 Vigorous. Season: late Sept.–Dec. small unless thinned; can be ~ very attractive; richly flavoured 93 ‘Winston’ (D) (H4)* 4 poorly coloured. Semi-weeping when fully ripe. Good, regular ~ aromatic and rich. Good, regular habit. Season: late Sept.–Oct. crops; fruit bruises easily. Prone to crops; fruit can be rather small; 93 ‘Mother’ (D) (H4)* 5 mildew. Season: late Sept.–Oct. good disease resistance. Season: ~ sweet, perfumed, distinctive 09 ‘Scrumptious’ (D) (H4) Dec.–Apr.; keeps very well flavour. Crops can be erratic, ~ regular cropper, good fruit size, light; good resistance to scab and attractive ornamental fruit. Good mildew. Season: Oct .–Dec. tree habit; easily managed. A 93 ‘Newton Wonder’ (D/C) (H4)*‡ 5 good dessert apple: sweet, good ~ cooks to juicy, brisk, well-flavoured flavour, crisp, juicy purée, but with much less acidity 93 ‘Sunset’ (D) (H4) 3 Above. Apple ‘Ribston Pippin’; watercolour than ‘Bramley’s Seedling’. ~ aromatic, like small early Cox, but by William Hooker from one of ten Matures to brisk eater. Heavy sharper. Heavy, regular crops, but volumes known as ‘Hooker’s Fruits’, which crops but strongly biennial; prone small fruit. Resistant to scab; prone were commissioned by the RHS to help to bitter pit. Vigorous tree. Season: to mildew and canker. Season: standardise the nomenclature of cultivated Nov.–Mar. and longer Oct.–Dec. fruit. The painting is dated 1816.

93 ‘Loch Ness’ (PBR) (D/C) (H4) CHERRY, SWEET (Prunus avium) ~ large, well-flavoured berries. 03 ‘Colney’ (D) (H4) Thornless; heavy cropping; ~ late, regular cropper. Excellent moderate vigour; hardy. Good flavour; not self-fertile. Season: resistance to purple blotch and late July–early Aug. botrytis, but prone to downy mildew 04 ‘Hertford’ (D) (H4) 94 ‘Silvan’ (D/C) (H4) ~ late/mid season. Large black fruit ~ attractive large, well-flavoured fruit. with pink-red flesh; excellent flavour. Early ripening. Very vigorous; thorny Very heavy crops. Some resistance to bacterial canker. Upright, BLACKCURRANT (Ribes nigrum) spreading habit. Not self-fertile l i b r a r y Season extends from early July to mid Aug. 95 ‘Merchant’ (D) (H4) 3 l e y (PBR) d 95 ‘Ben Connan’ (C) (H4) ~ early black cherry; well-flavoured. l i n ~ large fruit; medium long strigs. Regular crops. Pollination: , Heavy crops; compact habit. Good universal donor, but not self-fertile. r h s resistance to mildew, leaf-curling Season: early July midge. Season: early 93 ‘Stella’ (H4) 4 93 ‘Worcester Pearmain’ (D) (H4) 3 93 ‘Ben Lomond’ (PBR) (C) (H4) ~ black cherry; large, rich, high ~ intense strawberry flavour when ~ large fruit, good flavour. Heavy quality. Heavy, regular crops; well-ripened and scarlet. Tip crops. Some resistance to frost. self-fertile. Prone to splitting in wet bearer; heavy, regular crops. Season: mid weather. Season: late July Resistant to mildew; some 93 ‘Ben Sarek’ (C) (H4) 04 ‘Summer Sun’ (D) (H4) 4 susceptibility to canker. Season: ~ large fruit. Heavy crops; compact ~ late (July). Produces firm, well- late Sept.–Oct. plant. Resistant to frost, mildew flavoured, red to black fruit. Very and leaf-curling midge. Season: good crops. Some resistance APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca) early/mid to bacterial canker. Attractive, 98 ‘Moorpark’ (D/C) (H3) upright, spreading habit; ~ good quality fruit. Can crop well BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium corymbosum) moderate vigour. Not self-fertile in southern England in sheltered Blueberries begin to ripen in mid July and site. Blossoms very early. Prone continue to late Aug. DAMSON (Prunus insititia) to die-back disease. Season: late 03 ‘Duke’ (D) (H4) 00 ‘Farleigh Damson’ (C) (H4) 4 July–early Aug. ‘Early Moorpark’ ~ good flavour, medium to large fruit. ~ excellent flavour. Regular, heavy often sold under this name Crops well; easy to grow. Flowers crops. Blossom shows some late; good for frost-prone sites; resistance to frost. Season: late Aug. BLACKBERRY (Rubus species) partly self-fertile. Season: early 98 ‘Prune Damson’ (C) (H4) 5 Season extends from late July to early Sept. 03 ‘Spartan’ (D) (H4) ~ larger fruits than ‘Farleigh 93 ‘Fantasia’ (PBR) (D/C) (H4) ~ excellent flavour; medium-sized Damson’, but typical damson ~ good size; well-flavoured fruit fruit. Quite good crops; not self- flavour. Regular, good crops. when fully ripe. Excellent for pies, fertile. Vigorous; upright habit. Season: late Aug. tarts, etc. Very heavy crops; very Good autumn colour. Season: vigorous early–mid FIG (Ficus carica) 93 ‘Brown Turkey’ (D) (H3) CHERRY, MORELLO (Prunus cerasus) ~ fruits regularly in the open in 93 ‘Morello’ (C) (H4) southern England and in many ~ dark red, acid cherry; excellent for parts of the Midlands and East preserves, tarts, etc. Regular, good Anglia in a warm position. Above. Cherry ‘Morello’; watercolour crops; very attractive in blossom; For good crop, root restriction by William Hooker (1779–1832) from self-fertile. Crops on north-facing advisable. Season: mid Aug.–mid ‘Hooker’s Fruits’. Date: 1818. site. Season: late July–early Aug. Sept., depending on site

GOOSEBERRY (Ribes uva-crispa) NECTARINE (Prunus persica var. Season extends from early June to mid Aug. For nectarina) culinary use, pick from early June. For ripe fruit 98 ‘Early Rivers’ (D) (H3) pick from about early July ~ good flavour. Season: mid July 93 ‘Careless’ (C/D) (H4) 98 ‘Lord Napier’ (D) (H3) ~ green fruit. Reliable, good crops. ~ good flavour. Season: early Aug. Good for tarts, jam, etc. Prone to mildew. Season: mid PEACH (Prunus persica) 94 ‘Greenfinch’ (C/D) (H4) 98 ‘Duke of York’ (D) (H3) ~ green fruit; compact bush. Some ~ white-fleshed; good quality and resistance to mildew and leaf spot. flavour. Needs protection to crop Season: mid; similar to ‘Careless’ and grow well. Season: mid–late July 93 ‘Invicta’ (C/D) (H4) 98 ‘Peregrine’ (D) (H3) l i b r a r y ~ green fruit; quite good flavour. ~ white-fleshed; good quality and l e y

Heavy crops; very vigorous; flavour. Crops in open in southern d

spreading habit; large thorns. England, but best protected. l i n , Some resistance to mildew. Season: mid Aug.–early Sept. r h s Young shoots can be damaged on 98 ‘Rochester’ (D) (H3) exposed site. Season: mid; slightly ~ yellow-fleshed; reasonable flavour earlier than ‘Careless’ and quality. Grows well with some 93 ‘Concorde’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 4 93 ‘Leveller’ (C/D) (H4) protection; can be grown in open ~ sweet, buttery, fragrant flavour, ~ large, yellow fruit; good dessert in south. Season: mid Aug. similar to ‘Conference’, but quality. Season: mid to late superior. Heavy, regular crops; 93 ‘Whinham’s Industry’ (C/D) (H4) PEAR (Pyrus communis) frost-tolerant blossom. Young trees ~ red fruit; quite good dessert 93 ‘Beth’ (D) (H4) 4 very precocious. Season: late Oct./ quality. Heavy, reliable crops. Very ~ attractive; good quality and Nov.–Dec. susceptible to mildew. Season: mid flavour. Small fruit. Heavy, regular 93 ‘Conference’ (D) (H4)* 3 crops. Season: mid/late Aug.–early ~ sweet, buttery, quite rich taste. GRAPE (Vitis) Sept.; short season once picked Heavy, regular crops. Can produce 04 ‘Boskoop Glory’ (D) (H4) 93 ‘Beurré Hardy’ (D) (H4)* 3 fruits without pollinators, but ~ black grape. Good outdoor vine for ~ very melting and fragrant with resulting fruits often misshapen. the amateur, both dessert and wine; rose-water perfume. Good, regular Season: Oct.–Nov./Dec. crops reliably; disease-resistant. crops. Very hardy, vigorous tree; 93 ‘Doyenné du Comice’ (D) (H4) 4 Moderately good flavour, but better slow to bear; resistant to scab. ~ very rich flavour; very juicy, than many shop-bought grapes. Season: Nov.–Dec. buttery, perfumed. Excellent Awarded as ‘Gloire de Boskoop’ 06 ‘Beurré Superfin’ (D) (H4) 3 quality, but moderate crops, 04 ‘New York Muscat’ (D) (H4) ~ an excellent September-cropping although older trees more regular. ~ black grape. A good dessert cultivar for the amateur gardener, Vigorous tree; prone to scab. Muscat with blackcurrant flavour. with a lovely cinnamon-russet Season: Nov.–Dec. Not compatible Disease-resistant. Best when colour and an exquisite flavour. with ‘Onward’ grown on a warm site or wall Gives a good, consistent yield and is not over vigorous. Mid-season LOGANBERRY (Rubus × loganobaccus) 93 ‘Catillac’ (C) (H4)‡ 4 Above. Colour-printed, hand-finished 93 ‘Ly 59’ (C) (H4) ~ large fruit, but culinary only; with stipple engraving of an unnamed peach ~ large, dark fruit; typical loganberry long, slow cooking, slices soften variety, engraved by Langlois (fl.1800s) taste. Season: July and turn red. Large attractive after an original by Pierre Joseph Redouté 93 ‘Ly 654’ (C) (H4) blossom. Good, regular crops. (1759–1840). From P. J. Redouté’s Choix ~ large, dark fruit; distinctive flavour; Vigorous tree. Season: Dec.–Mar./ des plus belles fleurs, published in Paris good crops. Thornless. Season: July Apr.; keeps very well from 1827 to 1833.

06 ‘Gorham’ (D) (H4) 4 95 ‘Blue Tit’ (C/D) (H4) 5 thinning. Partly self-fertile. ~ a beautiful green pear with a ~ pleasant flavour; regular, good Blossom buds very prone to bird good covering of russet. Has an crops. Self-fertile. Season: mid Aug. damage. Season: early–mid Aug. excellent flavour; a good reliable 98 ‘Cambridge Gage’ (D) (H4) 4 93 ‘Oullins Gage’ (D) (H4) 4 cropper and readily available to ~ honey, sweet, excellent greengage ~ large, yellow flushed with pink. Not the amateur gardener. Late quality, but more reliable than most typical gage quality, but quite rich. 93 ‘Joséphine de Malines’ (D) (H4) 3 greengages. Reasonably regular Heavy, regular crops. Partly self- ~ very rich, buttery and perfumed. crops in favourable situations. Partly fertile. Season: mid Aug. Crops good, reliable, but needs self-fertile. Season: mid Aug. 93 ‘Pershore’ (C) (H4) 3 warm site. Fruit easily bruised. Tip- 93 ‘Czar’ (C/D) (H4) 3 ~ large, yellow plum. Bottling bearer; resistant to scab. Season: ~ well-flavoured; early blue plum; use favourite. Heavy, regular crops. Nov.–Dec./Jan. for jam but also moderate eating Self-fertile. Season: mid Aug. 03 ‘Louise Bonne of Jersey’ (D) (H4) 2 quality. Heavy, regular crops. Self- 95 ‘Reeves’ (D) (H4) 3 ~ richly flavoured, buttery and juicy. fertile. Season: mid Aug. ~ very attractive, yellow-orange to Good, regular crops. Hardy tree; 93 ‘Early Laxton’ (C/D) (H4) 3 pinky red plum; good, rich dessert blossom shows some resistance to ~ red, early plum; good for jam and quality. Not self-fertile. Mainly light frost; susceptible to scab. Season: reasonable eating quality. Heavy, crops, occasionally heavy. Needs Oct.–Nov. Not compatible with regular crops. Not self-fertile. warm site. Season: mid–late Aug. ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ Season: late July–early Aug. 93 ‘Sanctus Hubertus’ (D) (H4) 3 93 ‘Onward’ (D) (H4) 4 94 ‘Edwards’ (C/D) (H4) 2 ~ large, blue plum; the largest of the ~ sweet, rich, buttery, somewhat like ~ handsome, large, exhibition plum; earlies. Good, regular crops. Not an early Comice. Good, regular light crops; prone to blossom wilt. self-fertile. Season: early Aug. crops. Prone to scab. Season: Season: late Aug. to early Sept. 95 ‘Valor’ (C/D) (H4) 2 Sept.–early Oct.; short season. 93 ‘Imperial Gage’ (C/D) (H4) 2 ~ blue, medium-sized plum. Good Not compatible with ‘Doyenné du ~ gage quality but not as rich as quality. Moderately good, regular Comice’ ‘Cambridge Gage’. Regular crops. crops. Not self-fertile. Season: late 93 ‘Pitmaston Duchess’ (C/D) (H4)‡ 4 Partly self-fertile. Season: mid Aug. Aug. ~ quite sugary and melting; sweet 94 ‘Jefferson’ (D) (H4) 1 93 ‘Victoria’ (C/D) (H4) 3 delicate flavour when cooked. ~ yellow flushed with red; rich, gage ~ red plum; reasonable to good Large, handsome exhibition fruit. quality. Moderate, regular crops. Not eating quality; excellent for Attractive blossom. Vigorous tree; self-fertile. Season: mid to late Aug. bottling, jam and tarts. Heavy, susceptible to scab. Season: late 95 ‘Laxton’s Delight’ (D) (H4) 3 regular crops. Self-fertile. Season: Sept.–Oct.; short season ~ large, yellow, attractive plum; good mid to late Aug. 93 ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ (D) (H4)* 3 rich flavour. Good, regular crops. ~ sweet, melting, juicy flesh with Partly self-fertile. Season: mid to RASPBERRY (Rubus idaeus) distinctive musky flavour. Good, late Aug. Raspberries crop from late June–early Aug. regular crops; good disease 00 ‘Mallard’ (D) (H4) 1 Autumn primocanes from late July–early Oct. resistance, but susceptible to scab. ~ medium-sized, red plum; quite 09 ‘All Gold’ (D) (H4) Season: late Aug.–Sept.; picking good flavour. Good, regular crops. ~ for autumn cropping right time is essential–usually mid/ Moderate vigour; not self-fertile. 93 ‘Autumn Bliss’ (D) (H4) late Aug. Not compatible with Season: mid–late Aug. ~ primocane-fruiting (fruiting on ‘Louise Bonne of Jersey’ 93 ‘Marjorie’s Seedling’ (C) (H4) 5 current season’s canes). Excellent ~ late, blue plum. Good for jam. flavour; large fruit. Good crops. PLUM (Prunus domestica) Reliable good crops; vigorous, Resistant to aphid vectors of virus 00 ‘Blue Rock’ (C/D) (H4) 1 upright habit. Self-fertile. Season: disease and phytophthora root ~ quite well-flavoured blue plum. late Sept.–early Oct. rot. Season: crops late July to Regular, good crops; not self- 95 ‘Opal’ (D) (H4) 3 early Oct. Reconfirmed for autumn fertile. Neat tree. Season: mid Aug. ~ small, purple plum; good flavour. cropping after trial 2009 Reliable, heavy crops; needs

09 ‘Caroline’ (PBR) (D) (H4) REDCURRANT (Ribes rubrum) susceptible to verticillium wilt. ~ for autumn cropping Redcurrants crop from mid July to early Sept. Season: early. Reconfirmed after 00 ‘Glen Ample’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 93 ‘Jonkheer van Tets’ (C) (H4) trial 2004 ~ large fruit, excellent flavour. ~ large, handsome fruit; long strigs. 94 ‘Pegasus’ (PBR) (D) (H4) Recommended for freezing. Heavy crops. Season: early ~ good flavour; quite soft flesh. Heavy crops; spine-free canes. 93 ‘Red Lake’ (C) (H4) Good disease resistance; tolerance Resistant to main aphid vector ~ good quality medium to large to verticillium wilt. Season: mid. of virus disease; some tolerance fruit; cropping on long trusses. Reconfirmed after trial 2004, 2006 to phytophthora root rot; some Prone to wind damage in exposed 94 ‘Rhapsody’ (D) (H4) susceptibility to leaf and bud mite. sites; in summer prune early. ~ good flavour; medium to large Season: mid. Reconfirmed for Season: mid to late berries. Resistant red core; some summer cropping after trial 2009 93 ‘Stanza’ (C) (H4) resistance to verticillium wilt and 09 ‘Glen Magna’ (PBR) (D) (H4) ~ medium-sized fruit; good quality. mildew. Season: late. Reconfirmed ~ for summer cropping Compact habit; heavy crops. after trial 2006 93 ‘Glen Moy’ (PBR) (D) (H4) Season: mid to late 95 ‘Symphony’ (PBR) (D) (H4) ~ medium-sized fruit, good flavour. ~ good flavour; bright, firm berries. Heavy crops; moderate vigour; STRAWBERRY (Fragaria × ananassa) Vigorous; good resistance to red spine-free canes. Resistant to In an early season, strawberries begin to crop core; susceptible to mildew. Good main aphid vector of virus disease; mid June; in a late season, mid to late June runner production. Season: mid to susceptible to midge blight and 93 ‘Aromel’ (D) (H4) late. Reconfirmed after trial 2006 phytophthora root rot. Season: early ~ everbearer. Good flavour; crops 93 ‘Glen Prosen’ (PBR) (D) (H4) over long period, but can be TAYBERRY (Rubus Tayberry Group) ~ medium-sized, firm fruit. Moderate erratic. Few runners produced. 93 Tayberry Group (H4) vigour; good crops; suited to wet Season: July–Oct. (only few berries ~ distinctive flavour. Larger fruit; regions. Season: mid per plant at any time) heavier crops than loganberry. 09 ‘Joan J’ (PBR) (D) (H4) 06 ‘Alice’ (PBR) (D) (H4) Excellent for cooking, freezing, jam, ~ for autumn cropping ~ a good consistent cropper, with a etc. Season: July 93 ‘Leo’ (PBR) (D) (H4) high percentage of mid to large, ~ large, firm fruit; excellent flavour. bright orange-red, sweet, juicy WHITECURRANT (Ribes rubrum) Good crops. Very long laterals. fruit. Scored well in taste tests 93 ‘White Grape’ (D/C) (H4) Season: late and performed well at different ~ attractive, translucent berries; 93 ‘Malling Admiral’ (D) (H4) geographical locations (Stafford, good flavour. Season: mid July ~ good quality; medium to large, Kent, Dundee) in HDC trials. Has attractive fruit. Consistent, good resistance to verticillium wilt; moderate to good crops; tall very useful to home gardener. Mid canes; withstands wet conditions, to late season but laterals easily damaged in 93 ‘Cambridge Favourite’ (D) (H4) exposed sites. Good disease ~ good flavour; medium size, but resistance. Season: mid to late. rather soft berries. Moderate Reconfirmed for summer cropping crops; excellent resistance to after trial 2009 disease. Good runner production. 93 ‘Malling Jewel’ (D) (H4) Season: mid ~ good flavour and crops. Season: 94 ‘Hapil’ (D) (H4) early to mid. Reconfirmed for ~ large glossy berries; good flavour. summer cropping after trial 2009 Heavy crops; vigorous. Susceptible 09 ‘Polka’ (PBR) (D) (H4) to verticillium wilt. Season: early/ ~ for autumn cropping mid. Reconfirmed after trial 2004 09 ‘Tulameen’ (D) (H4) 93 ‘Honeoye’ (D) (H4) ~ for summer cropping ~ excellent flavour. Heavy crops;

Cultivation approximately the same time. Figures in superscript after the name denote the All fruits are best grown in sheltered sites, flowering group: for good pollination, with protection from spring frosts and choose cultivars from the same group, cold winds. Brief guidance is given below though those from adjacent groups on suitability for different locations, will also serve as pollinators. Apples rootstocks, pollination and storage. and pears listed as triploid (‡) are poor pollinators and require a normal (i.e. Location diploid) pollinator to set fruit. Gardeners should be aware that this diploid Most of the apple cultivars listed here pollinator will not itself set fruit unless l i b r a r y succeed all over the country, including pollinated by another diploid tree. Many l e y

the north of England. Those which have Malus species and crab apples, such d

been found to be particularly successful as ‘Golden Hornet’ and ‘Evereste’, are l i n , in higher-rainfall and colder areas are also a good source of pollen for dessert r h s marked with an asterisk; this is also and culinary apples. A number of the used to highlight other fruits that have plums listed are self-fertile or partly been found to be successful in northern self-fertile and will produce crops without pear (vigorous) rootstocks. Some pear regions. Pears crop best in sheltered a pollinator, but a pollinator is needed cultivars are incompatible with a quince warm situations; in the more exposed for all other plums. Cherries listed as rootstock and these are sold with a areas and northern counties, some self-fertile will crop without a pollinator, pear interstock (usually ‘Beurré Hardy’). pears will benefit from the protection but otherwise cherries need a pollinator. Plums are available on ‘Pixy’ (semi- of walls. Plums are susceptible to spring Peach, nectarine and apricot cultivars dwarfing) and ‘Saint Julien A’ (semi- frosts and also need warm summers listed are self-fertile, as are the soft vigorous) rootstocks; cherries on ‘Tabel’ to ripen fully. Only early ripening fruits, except that blueberries may need (very dwarfing), ‘Gisela 5’ (dwarfing), plums can be relied upon in the shorter a pollinator. and ‘Colt’ (semi-vigorous). Peaches, season of northern counties. Currants, nectarines and apricots are available gooseberries, raspberries and berry Rootstocks on ‘Saint Julien A’ (semi-vigorous) and fruits are generally satisfactory in ‘Pixy’ (semi-dwarfing).Apricots are also most parts of the country, but cold All tree fruits are grafted onto rootstocks available on ‘Torimol’ (semi-vigorous). winds at flowering time can be a of varying vigour. Choice of rootstock problem. Strawberries can be grown will determine the ultimate size of the Storage all over the country, but will need some tree and hence needs to be borne in protection in exposed sites and from mind when selecting new trees for the Early apples and pears will not store, spring frosts. Blueberries are hardy garden. For example, apple trees on but many more of the apple and pear plants but require light, well-drained, ‘M9’ rootstock are suitable for small cultivars listed will store to Christmas moisture-retentive, acid soil (pH 4.0–5.5). gardens, while those on ‘M25’ will and some to the spring. This calls for Nectarines, peaches, apricots and produce large, standard trees. The size of good storage conditions, i.e. a cool, dark, figs can crop satisfactorily in sheltered, the tree will also be determined by the frost-free place that is not subject to warm situations in southern England. In vigour of the cultivar. It is often advisable fluctuating temperatures. Often this can northerly areas they will need protection to obtain a very vigorous cultivar, for be achieved in sheds and garages, but in such as a south-facing wall, or to be example ‘Bramley’s Seedling’, on a more general centrally heated houses are not grown under glass or in polytunnels. dwarfing stock. Apples are available on suitable for long-term storage. ‘M27’ (very dwarfing), ‘M9’ (dwarfing), Pollination ‘M26’ (semi-dwarfing), ‘MM 106’ Above. Hand-coloured stipple engraving (semi-vigorous), and ‘M25’ (vigorous) of a plum variety described as the Green Most tree fruits need to be pollinated by rootstocks. Pears are available on ‘Quince Gage Plum, engraved after an original another tree of the same kind growing C’ (dwarfing), ‘Quince A’ (semi-vigorous), by William Hooker, from William Hooker: reasonably close by, which flowers at ‘BA 29’ (semi-vigorous) and seedling Pomona Londinensis. London: 1818.