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Saint Edmund's Russet apple tree

Saint Edmund's Russet
Saint Edmund's Russet has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritSaint Edmund's Russet is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Pollination group: 3

Saint Edmund's Russet (sometimes known as St. Edmund's Pippin) is one of the best English russet apple varieties. It looks superb with its dull matt russet coloring, and tastes great.

The flavor is perhaps richer than its better-known compatriot Egremont Russet, and noticeably juicier.

Saint Edmund's Russet apple trees for sale

  • 1Dwarf 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
    Mature height: 6ft-9ft after 10 years
    Dwarf rootstock
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  • 2Semi-dwarf 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
    Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
    G.890 rootstock
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How to grow

Saint Edmund's Russet is a good backyard apple variety, it crops reliably and grows in a wide range of conditions. Like many russet varieties, it has some natural resistance to many of the main apple diseases, including cedar apple rust.

The only thing to look out for is that it can be a partial tip-bearer - some apples are borne on the ends of shoots rather than the more usual short fruit-bearing spurs. For this reason it is best to keep pruning to a minimum, to avoid accidentally pruning the fruit-bearing tips of shoots. Like many tip-bearers it has a slightly weeping growth habit.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Raised by Mr Harvey of the town of Bury St. Edmunds, in the county of Suffolk, England, in 1875.

Saint Edmund's Russet characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Pollination group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Picking seasonMid
  • UsesEating freshJuiceHard cider
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • General resistanceGood
  • CankerSome resistance
  • ScabVery resistant
  • Cedar apple rustSome resistance
  • MildewSome resistance
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
  • Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colorRusset

Similar varieties

  • See also Ashmead's Kernel
    Ashmead's Kernel
    A versatile English 17th century russet apple, Ashmead's Kernel is noted for its distinctive pear-like flavor.
  • See also Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet is the most popular English russet variety, and a good apple tree for the garden.
  • See also Pine Golden Pippin
    Pine Golden Pippin
    A classic English russet apple from the Victorian era, notable for its pineapple-like flavor.