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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Egremont Russet

Egremont Russet apples
Egremont Russet has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritEgremont Russet is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Egremont Russet is a classic English russet apple from the Victorian era. It remains popular with discerning apple lovers who appreciate its unique flavour and apearance.

Egremont Russet is a medium-sized apple. The flesh seems quite dry and gets drier with keeping - it is moist rather than juicy. Traditionally described as "nutty", the flavour is more delicate than most varieties, and quite sweet. Both the flavour and the soft flesh are reminiscent of a firm pear. Yet Egremont Russet is surprisingly versatile, working well in savoury salads for example, and a popular partner for cheese.

Like many russets, Egremont Russet is a good apple for juicing. The apples are not particularly juicy, so you need plenty of them - but the resulting juice is rich, thick, and very sweet.

Egremont Russet apple trees for sale

  • RF11-year bare-root tree on M9 rootstock£38.25
    Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a dwarf apple tree, a small apple spindlebush, a small apple fan or espalier, a small apple cordon or U-cordon. Will require permanent support.
    Available next season
  • RF22-year bare-root tree on M9 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for growing a small bush-trained dwarf apple tree, will need a permanent stake.
    Available next season
  • RF3Spindlebush bare-root tree on M9 rootstock£44.00
    Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
    For growing a dwarf spindlebush apple tree, will need a permanent vertical stake.
    Available next season
  • RF41-year bare-root tree on M26 rootstock£34.95
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a semi-dwarf apple tree, a medium apple spindlebush, a medium apple fan or espalier, a large apple cordon or U-cordon.
    Available next season
  • RF52-year bare-root tree on M26 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a medium bush-trained semi-dwarf apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF61-year bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£34.95
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large free-standing apple tree, a half-standard apple tree, a large apple fan or espalier, or a pleached apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF72-year bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a large bush-trained free-standing apple tree.
    Available next season

Growing and Training

Egremont Russet is easy to grow, with generally good disease resistance, and a reliable though not spectacular cropper.

It can be grown throughout the UK.

The characteristic russeting does not always appear if the spring weather is not conducive, particularly on young trees. The resulting apples have the flavour and texture of Egremont Russet, but the skin is a smooth golden-green colour. This is less of an issue as the tree gets older.


Recommended pollinators for Egremont Russet apple trees

Egremont Russet is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.

  • Pollinator Bardsey
    Bardsey
    A hardy disease-resistant apple, discovered growing on an island off the west coast of Wales.
  • Pollinator Bountiful
    Bountiful
    Bountiful is an easy-to-grow cooking apple, it retains its shape when cooked, fairly sweet for a cooker.
  • Pollinator Greensleeves
    Greensleeves
    Greensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
  • Pollinator Keswick Codlin
    Keswick Codlin
    Keswick Codlin is a popular early-season cooking apple, easy to grow, and productive in most climates.
  • Red Sentinel
    Malus Red Sentinel has classic white blossom and a profusion of tiny scarlet persistent fruits.
  • Pollinator Stirling Castle
    Stirling Castle
    A traditional Scottish cooker from the Victorian era, with a good sharp flavour.

History

Egremont Russet was discovered in Sussex, England, in 1872.


Egremont Russet characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonLate
  • Picking periodlate September
  • Keeping1-2 months
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourRusset

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Ashmead's Kernel
    Ashmead's Kernel
    A versatile English 17th century russet apple, Ashmead's Kernel is noted for its distinctive pear-like flavour.
  • See also Herefordshire Russet
    Herefordshire Russet
    Herefordshire Russet is a modern russet apple variety, with an excellent strong Cox-like flavour.
  • See also Norfolk Royal Russet
    Norfolk Royal Russet
    Norfolk Royal Russet is a glorious golden-russet apple which tastes as good as it looks.
  • See also Saint Edmund's Russet
    Saint Edmund's Russet
    Not as well known as other russets, St. Edmund's Russet is nevertheless one of the best.

More about apple trees

Apples are very versatile, and all varieties can be eaten or used in the kitchen. However varieties specifically grown as eating apples tend to have the best flavours for eating raw.

The main thing to decide when choosing an eating apple is when you intend to eat the apples. Early season apples are typically ready in August, and generally don't keep very long. Mid-season apples are ripe in early September, while late-season apples start to become ripe in late September and October. Many of the late-season varieties can also be stored in a fridge or cold shed for several months into the winter.

Some apple varieties are self-fertile, but most are not. However in most areas of the UK you do not need to worry whether your apple trees are self-fertile or not, as there will be other apple trees in nearby gardens to help with pollination.


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