Egremont Russet Apple Tree (BARE ROOT)
Our bare root Egremont Russet eating apple tree provides apples with a nutty flavour (we checked to make sure the taster had not just eaten a peanut butter sandwich before writing the review on this apple tree). The flavour and texture could be likened to that of a firm pear and it goes surprisingly well with Cheese. As with almost every other apple tree, the fruits of the Egremont Russet taste better when allowed to ripen on the tree. As opposed to the orchards picking them early and unripe so they travel better and ripen on the shelves.
It has average resistance to most apple tree diseases (excellent resistance to apple scab) so if you are in habit of taking your tree out to visit friends and their apple trees are poorly then you have a 50/50 chance of coming back with something more than you bargained for. It is also very hardy, quite vigorous and reliable cropper and the fruit keeps quite well. The abundance of flowers also attracts the bees and other pollinating and grateful insects.
The Egremont Russet is one of several Victorian species of apple tree that have generally fallen to the wayside but a small group of apple puritans keep the demand high enough for tree nurseries to stock it. One of the reasons it may have fallen out of favour is that the Egremont Russet is not an apple that will send a burst of apple juice shooting in every direction each time you bite into it. Don't be misled into thinking that this sounds like sucking on a flip flop taken from the beach on a mid-Summers day, after all everything is relative. It is more moist than juicy and what you may lack in juice content is more than made up for with the distinctive flavour and cream coloured flesh.
The Russet part of the name refers to the texture of the skin which could be likened to a very fine abrasive paper. Not so abrasive that you will see DIY shows cutting up the fruits to plane smooth plaster walls but you know what we mean.
It is listed as being particularly suitable for the majority of UK which means you can plant it in the North, East, South and West without too many problems. This either means:
- The Welsh won't accuse it of buying up their housing stock for holiday homes, the Scot's will not punish it for scenes shown in Braveheart and the South won't accuse it of moving into the area just to claim benefits.
OR
It can tolerate the majority of UK weather conditions except those where even penguins, permanently portable people (formerly known as Gypsies), criminals on the run, Gary Glitter and even moss won't live.
The blossoms of the Egremont Russet are particularly heavy i.e. good pollinators for others trees.
Most important information
Month Of Fruiting: October
Type Of Apple: Eating and Cooking (possibly dental scrape and polish as well but we cannot be sure!)
Fertility: (C2) NOT SELF-FERTILE. Requires another apple tree in group C1,C2 or C3 close by.
See What Our Customers Are Saying About Our Bare Root Egremont Russett:
November 2013: I'm so sorry. I meant to reply as soon as the trees arrived. They arrived in very good condition and are now planted in the garden. We are looking forward to seeing them grow leaves in the spring. We will certainly order from you again. Regards Clare Auty
