PEST AND DISEASE OF EGREMONT RUSSET

Without a doubt this variety shows good disease resistance particularly to scab making it an excellent choice for the wetter areas of the UK where this disease is common. It also has good resistance to canker and mildew.

The key problem area for this variety is bitter pit which is especially a problem in younger trees. Unless your soil is very low in nutrients avoid feeding an Egremont Russet tree. Excessive nitrogen and / or potassium will make the problem worse. Water well in dry conditions because an irregular supply of water also encourages bitter pit. See the picture below for external signs of this disease.

For much more detailed information on identifying and treating Bitter Pit, consult our page dedicated to this problem which can be found here.

Another less common disease in the UK which this variety is prone to, is Fireblight. This is common in hawthorn hedgerows so be wary of cultivating Egremont Russet in areas where infected hawthorns are growing nearby.

BUYING AN EGREMONT RUSSET APPLE TREE

Egremont Russet is the most popular russet apple in the UK and for this reason is often found at garden centres. It is not normally found at supermarkets or diy stores. All the major online fruit suppliers sell this tree.

SUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF EGREMONT RUSSET

USE: Eating and cooking

SKIN COLOUR / TEXTURE: Russet, dull brown with some red patches, looks good.

FLESH COLOUR: White

TASTE AND TEXTURE: A crisp texture which is also dense. Very pleasant taste with a slight nutty flavour.

FRUIT SIZE: Average

SUITABILITY FOR CORDON / ESPALIER GROWTH: Yes

TREE SIZE: Average size depending on rootstock and conditions

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Very regular

POLLINATION: Group 2, partially self-fertile but does better with a suitable pollination partner

AWARDS: RHS AGM

SPECIAL FEATURES: A top quality russet with excellent flavour and texture. Far better eaten fresh compared to whatever the supermarkets do to them to keep them longer than normal. Good disease resistance including scab.

FLOWERING AND HARVEST TIMES:

The average flowering time (optimum time for pollination) and date when fruits are ripe for harvest in the UK for the Egremont Russet apple tree are set out below. If you have set your home town we can give you a more accurate estimate, if you have not set your home town (do it now by clicking here) the dates below will be the average for the UK.

Your town has not been set, the average main flowering time for Egremont Russet in the UK is the last week of April to the first week of May. Fruit will be ready for harvesting in the third week of September. Click here if you want to set the dates to your home town.

Flowering and fruit picking dates vary according to the weather in any particular growing season so the above dates may well change slightly from one year to the next. The flowering date above is when the apple tree produces the maximum number of blossoms, it will also produce blossom, although less, a week or two either side of the date given.

COMMON POLLINATION PARTNERS FOR EGREMONT RUSSET

Egremont Russet is in pollination group 2. It is partially self-fertile and in many years it may benefit from a pollination partner. Suitable pollination varieties include the following:

• Alkmene – pollination group 2, self-sterile, eater
• Allington Pippin – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker and eater
• Arthur Turner – pollination group 3, self-sterile, cooker
• Beauty of Bath – pollination group 2, self-sterile, eater
• Bountiful – pollination group 3, self-sterile, cooker
• Charles Ross – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker and eater
• Court of Wick – pollination group 3, self-sterile, eater and cooker
• Cox’s Orange Pippin – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile (see here), eater and cooker
• Devonshire Quarrenden – pollination group 2, partially self-fertile, cooker
• Discovery – pollination group 3, self-sterile, eating and cider
• Fiesta – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, eater
• Granny Smith – pollination group 3, self fertile, eater and cooker
• Greensleeves – pollination group 2, self-fertile, eater, cooker, juice
• Grenadier – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker
• Howgate Wonder – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker and eater
• Idared – pollination group 2, self-sterile, eater
• James Grieve – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker and eater
• Katy – pollination group 3, self-sterile, eater
• Kidds Orange Red – pollination group 3, self-sterile, eater
• Laxtons Fortune – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, eater
• Lord Lambourne – pollination group 2, self-fertile, eater and cooker
• Peasgoods Nonsuch – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, cooker
• Red Falstaff – pollination group 3, self-fertile, eater
• Red Windsor – pollination group 2, self-fertile, eater
• Reverend W Wilks – pollination group 2, self-fertile, cooker
• Rubinette – pollination group 3, self-sterile, eater
• Scrumptious – pollination group 3, self-fertile, eater
• Sops in Wine – pollination group 3, self-sterile, juicer
• Spartan – pollination group 3, self-fertile, eater
• Sunset – pollination group 3, self-fertile, eater and cooker
• Worcester Pearmain – pollination group 3, partially self-fertile, eater