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Worcester Pearmain apple trees

  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

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

Pot-grown

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree M27 rootstock £42.00
    Very small tree (< 1.7m after 10 years)
  • PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £39.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £39.50
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
  • PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £44.50
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £19.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £19.95
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £29.95
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year (1.75m) bare-root tree M25 rootstock £34.95
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)

How to grow

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.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Worcestershire, England. 1870s. According to the Victorian writer Hogg, Worcester Pearmain is a seedling of Devonshire Quarrenden.

Worcester Pearmain characteristics

Using

  • CroppingHeavy
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Flavour qualityGood
  • WildlifeRHS perfect for pollinators
  • Flavour style (apples)Sweeter
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • Discoloration of fruitNo discoloration (Good for drying)

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • PloidyDiploid
  • VigourAverage vigour
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
  • PruningDo not prune

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • CankerSome susceptibility

Climate

  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)(4) -30F / -34C
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Frost resistance of blossomGood resistance

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Fruit colourRed
  • AwardsRHS Award of Garden Merit