The Grounded Orchardist

I get asked a lot about fruit variety selection. Which fruit varieties should you buy? Well, that’s a big question.

I started off knowing very few fruit varieties. Educated by the supermarkets really. I knew I liked Braeburn and Cox’s orange pippin. I knew I didn’t like Royal Gala (shock, horror….I still don’t!). Victoria plums were a favourite though I’m not sure I had knowingly tried any other variety. I’m not a fan of pears (a little secret there!) but I have since learned that I do like them cooked! I liked cherries, grapes but I couldn’t have told you what variety they were.

As I branched out and did my horticultural studies and a lot of study at home, I started to realise there was a lot more to this than what the supermarkets were letting on, but I was still limited by supermarket status garden centres.

As my fruit growing journey has continued and grown I’ve got to taste a fair few. On the farm I tried the Egremont russet for the first time which is still one of my favourite apples. I mention this as its not a looker but I look forward to trying one off the tree every year. Thankfully we grow Egremont Russet in the orchard at work so I still get a fresh one off the tree. Discovery if amazing too but only for two weeks. I also learnt on the farm that there are much tastier cooking apples than Bramley such as Grenadier and Howgate Wonder. Then, there were the plums. Now yes, Victoria is a lovely plum but we grew Opal, Marjorie’s seedling and Excalibur which are fantastic and sorry Victoria, in comparison you are a watered down version! (I’m still a fan though). I got to try my first Apricot off the tree, we grew Tomcot, Flavourcot and Goldcot…all are beautiful!

In my current orchard I’ve been spoilt with choice. We have 153 different varieties of apple, 30 pears, a selection of Cherries and stone fruit. We have varieties from all around the world. The apples that stand out most in this orchard for me are Katy, Cybele, greensleeves and Villandry. I also got to try Quince for the first time. A beautiful fruit! Then theres the Medlars, which I knew nothing about and was slightly disgusted and excited when reading about them. We also have a Kiwi, the variety is Jenny. I haven’t tasted any other variety of Kiwi that’s homegrown. However, this is genuinely the best Kiwi I have ever tasted.

Tips for fruit variety selection

• Choose varieties you like. Remember to do your research into pollination partners for that variety.
• Go to apple day events to try even more varieties. There’s plenty of events on all around the country.
• What will you use the fruit for?
• Do you need a variety that stores well?
• In a larger, commercial setting. What variety will sell well? Local varieties or more commonly know ones such as Royal Gala, Braeburn, Bramley, Conference, Victoria etc.
• Is the blossom for wildlife a factor? If so, Do you need a longer flowering variety?
• Are you growing for Ornamental reasons?
• Go to Brogdale collections they hold the national collection of apples in the UK.
• RHS Wisley also have a wide selection of fruit.
• If you find a fruit you like but don’t know the variety. You can send it to Wisley for testing. RHS Wisley fruit identification

So, my favourite varieties

So here’s my current list of favourites. It’s ever growing as I visit places and events.

Apples

• Cox’s orange pippin
• Egremont Russet
• Howgate wonder
• Grenadier
• James grieve
• Katy
• Cybele
• Villandry
• St Edmunds pippin

Pears

• Black Worcester
• Humbug
• Cooked pears

Plums

• Opal
• Victoria
• Marjories seedling
• Excalibur
• Mirabelles

Apricots

• Tomcot
• Flavourcot
• Goldcot

Quince

• Champion
• Portugal

Cherry

• Stella

Medlars

• Neflier gros fruits