Jumbo

Jumbo is a modern dual-purpose apple, named for the exceptional size of its fruits. It is not unusual to get apples weighing more than 400g (or up to 1lb), which is about three times larger than most supermarket dessert apples.

As a cooker, Jumbo is sweeter than most of the mainstream English culinary varieties, so does not usually need sugar added. It also keeps its shape when cooked. The apples store well, easily keeping for 3 months in a fridge. Whereas most cookers are simply large and green, Jumbo is very attractive, like a modern bi-coloured eating apple, with an extensive scarlet flush covering a yellow background.

Jumbo has a good strong flavour which is certainly sweet enought for eating fresh, although the apples are probably too big for one person to manage!

Growing and Training

As might be guessed from the size of its apples, Jumbo is a triploid variety. That means it is not self-fertile and will not pollinate other apple varieties - but also that it is a big, hardy, vigorous-growing tree that can shake off diseases and problems.

History

Jumbo was developed by one of the most successful English apple breeders of recent times, Hugh Ermen, and released in 2000. It is a cross between the popular English variety Charles Ross, and the well-regarded American variety Jonathan.

Jumbo characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
• Pollinating othersPoor
• Pick seasonLate
• Picking monthSeptember
• Picking periodmid-September
• Keeping3 months or more
• Food usesEating freshCulinaryDual purpose
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Period of origin1950 - 1999
• Fruit colourOrange / Red

You might also like these varieties

• 
  Bramley's Seedling
  Bramley is the essential English cooking apple, famous for its rich sharp acidity.
• 
  Howgate Wonder
  Howgate Wonder is a large cooking apple which keeps well. Produces an excellent sharp juice.
• 
  Lord Derby
  Lord Derby is a high-quality mid/late-season traditional English cooking apple, cooks to a chunky puree.
• 
  Reverend W. Wilks
  A widely-grown and well-regarded English cooking 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.