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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Worcester Pearmain

Worcester Pearmain apples
Worcester Pearmain has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritWorcester Pearmain is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Worcester Pearmain is a classic English early-season apple, and remains popular as a garden variety. The apples are fairly small, and a pretty bright red where the sun catches them, whilst the blossom in spring is also a feature.

The flavour is good and sweet for an early variety, and in a good year you may notice the slight strawberry flavour for which this variety is renowned.

Like most early-season varieties, Worcester Pearmain does not keep. It is at its best when eaten straight from the tree, but you can store the apples in a fridge for up to a week.

Although always considered as a dessert apple variety, Worcester Pearmain is a good variety for stewed apple.

Worcester Pearmain apple trees for sale

  • RF11-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
  • RF22-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
  • RF31-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
  • RF42-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
  • RF51-year bare-root tree on M25 rootstock£35.75
    Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
    Can be trained on to produce a big 'standard' free-standing apple tree in a traditional apple orchard.
    Available next season

Growing and Training

Worcester Pearmain makes a good and reliable apple tree for the garden. Inspite of its susceptibility to the apple diseases scab and canker, it is generally a problem-free tree, and it is resistant to mildew. Pruning needs to be done carefully as Worcester Pearmain is a tip-bearer and the apples are borne on the end of the shoots.


History

According to the Victorian writer Hogg, Worcester Pearmain is a seedling of Devonshire Quarrenden, and was found in the1870s. 


Worcester Pearmain characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonEarly
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • Keeping1 week
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • PruningDo not prune
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourRed

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Discovery
    Discovery
    Discovery is the definitive early-season English apple variety, makes a good fruit tree for the garden.
  • See also Katy
    Katy
    Katy is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
  • See also Rosette
    Rosette
    Probably the best-flavoured of the pink-fleshed apple varieties, and produces lovely pink juice.
  • See also Scrumptious
    Scrumptious
    Scrumptious is a modern award-winning early-season English dessert apple.

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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