Old Varieties

Celebrating and remembering old fruit and vegetable varieties

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Blenheim Orange

Apple – Blenheim Orange

The triploid apple, Blenheim Orange was discvoered by Mr Kempster at Woodstock near Blenheim, England around 1740.

Blenheim Orange
Blenheim Orange

Distribution of the apple did not start until 1818 and it received the Banksian Medal in 1822.

Fruits have a creamy white, somewhat course texture with rather dry flesh.  It has a rich sweet, nutty, aromatic flavour.

Said to be good with cheese and for making Apple Charlotte.



Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Late September
Natural Storage: October – December

The Blenheim Orange apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.

Young trees are available from Adam’s Apples, in Devon.

Apple – Edward VII

The first record of the Edward VII apple was in 1902.  Introduced by Rowe of Worcester in 1908.

Edward VII
Edward VII

The apple received the RHS Award of Merit in 1903.

Fruits have a firm, rather coarse texture, fairly juicy, with an acid flavour.

Reported to be an excellent cooking apple.

Uses: Culinary
Parents: Female -Blenheim Orange?  x Male – Golden Noble?
Flowers: Mid to late May
Picking: Mid October
Natural Storage: December to April

The Edward VII apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.