York Museums Trust

Plant Sale Stock

 Cultivars Available 

Nancy Jackson (3 available) 

Excellent late cooking variety, first described in 1875 but probably much older. Very large handsome fruit, green with a deep rosy-red blush, which keep their shape when cooked. Superb, rich flavour, the fruit stores through until April. Widely grown in the North Riding of Yorkshire throughout the 1900s. 

 

Flower of the Town (1 available) 

Rare traditional Yorkshire variety, originating in the famous Backhouse nursery in York, sometime before 1831. Bright red flushed second-early dessert apple which is sharp and hard. The tree is hardy, vigorous, and spreading, and bears large brightly coloured fruit. Counted as a dessert variety, the flavour is crisp and sharp. 

 

Bramley (1 available) 

A large, late cooking apple with mid-green skin, sometimes flushed with brownish-red, and sharp-tasting, greenish-white, flesh 

 

Catshead (2 available) 

A large, midseason heritage cooking apple, with an angular shape, yellow-green skin flushed with orange, and dry, crisp white flesh that cooks to a firm, sharp puree. Ready to harvest in mid-autumn 

 

Adam’s Pearmain (2 available) 

A late, dessert apple with yellow, conical fruit with red stripes, an orange-red flush and scattered russetting. The cream flesh has a fairly dry texture, and an aromatic, nutty flavour. Spreading, part tip-bearing trees produce a good crop in mid-autumn, the fruit storing to early spring. 

 

Egremont Russet (1 available) 

A dessert cultivar in Suitable for northerly, colder, higher rainfall areas. Produces good, regular crops of apples; yellowish-green, up to half flushed brownish-red and covered with russet. Characteristic nutty flavour with a season of use from October to December 

 

Katy (1 available) 

An early-season, vigorous, heavy-cropping, dessert apple for picking and eating in early to mid-autumn. The skin is yellow-green, prominently flushed with pinkish-red and the juicy, white flesh has a sweet, tangy flavour. 

 

Discovery (2 available) 

‘Discovery’ is a dessert apple that has a fairly compact habit. It can grow to 2.5-8m in height and width, depending on the rootstock. White flowers are followed by fruit that can be used from August to September. 

 

Balsam (2 available) 

Known as ‘The farmer’s wife’s apple’, this smallish, bright green apple was once grown in almost every garden and orchard in Yorkshire. Crops consistently and prolifically with the added bonus of very attractive pinkish-white blossom. A strong grower with a vigorous branching habit. 

 

Merton Worcester (1 available) 

An excellent early to mid season red apple with a strawberry flavour. 

 

James Grieves (1 available) 

An early dessert cultivar, suitable for northerly, colder rainfall areas. Good, regular crops of apples, yellow-green speckled and striped orange-red, but can easily bruise. Can be used for cooking if picked early before ripe. Savoury, crisp to melting flesh; when cooked keeps shape, with juicy, delicate flavour. Season of use is from September to October, and longer 

 

Ribston Pippin (2 available) 

18th century eating apple, first grown at Ribston Hall, Yorkshire. Produces good, regular crops of apples, greenish-yellow flushed orange red. An intense, rich, aromatic flavour; more acidity and more robust than Cox. Season of use from October to January. 

 

Yorkshire Greening (2 available) 

A large, late, cooking apple with dark green skin flushed with red, and very juicy, firm, acidic, greenish flesh cooking to a strong, fruity puree. Listed in Perfects of Pontefract’s catalogue of 1769, this is old Yorkshire variety was prized for it’s tart flavour and ability to cut the fattiness of a roast goose at Christmas time.  

Pollination group C 

 

Sharleston Pippin (2 available) 

Originated in Yorkshire, 1888. Rare Yorkshire dessert variety. Light flavour, sweet and juicy. 

 

Dog’s Snout (1 available) 

Quite a rare Yorkshire Apple, this produces unusual pear-shaped fruit with a wonderful, distinct flavour. Delightful pale pink blossom in the Spring. Very hardy and reliable. 

 

Fiesta (1 available) 

Its flavour is rich, aromatic and sweet with a crisp texture from its orange/red with short red stripes, slightly ribbed, apples. Ideal for colder areas. Although classed as a dessert apple, it can also be used for cooking and juicing.