Laxton's Fortune

Many growers have attempted to combine the superb flavour of Cox's Orange Pippin with other varieties that are less disease-prone and easier to grow. Fortune, developed by the Laxton Brothers Nursery in the early 20th century is a good example of this, having some of the aromatic richness of Cox but much better resistance to the apple disease scab.

Although not as well known as Laxton's Superb, it remains a popular garden apple variety.

Growing and Training

If you want to learn about biennial bearing in apple trees, Laxton's Fortune is the example the textbooks usually mention! Biennial bearing is when the tree fruits heavily in alternate years, with a light crop or no crop in the intervening year. Heavy-cropping varieties which are also of low vigour - such as Laxton's Fortune - are most prone to this condition. To prevent this happening, make sure you don't let the tree set too heavy a crop, as this will trigger the cycle. The easiest way to prevent over-cropping is to thin the fruitlets at the start of June after the blossom is over - thin each cluster to one fruitlet per cluster, and then if necessary remove some of the remaining ones as well.

Fortune ripens earlier than Cox but for the best flavour leave it on the tree until the apples start to fall before picking.

Laxton's Fortune performs well in hotter climates, so is a good choice if you want a traditional English-style apple but are living in Spain, Italy, or southern France.

History

Developed at the start of the 20th century by the famous Laxton Brothers Nursery in Bedfordshire. Laxton's Fortune (often known simply as Fortune) is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and a little-known American variety called Wealthy. It received a first class certificate from the RHS in 1948.

This was not the first time that the Laxton Brothers Nursery had worked with Cox's Orange Pippin - they had previously released Laxton's Superb, another Cox-derived variety.

Laxton's Fortune characteristics

• Gardening skillExperienced
• Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Pick seasonMid
• Keeping2-3 weeks
• Food usesEating fresh
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Period of origin1900 - 1949
• Fruit colourGreen / Red

You might also like these varieties

• 
  Laxton's Superb
  Laxton's Superb is a deservedly popular English late-season dessert apple from the Victorian era.
• 
  Lord Lambourne
  Lord Lambourne is a popular versatile garden apple variety, with a good balance of sweet and sharp flavours.

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.