Charles Ross apple
Malus domestica
Handsome, juicy, versatile English classic - good for old-fashioned English cooking.
Charles Ross is a classic English late-Victorian apple, nearly always described as "handsome".
It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin, and an older English cooking apple called Peasgood Nonsuch. The result is a versatile apple, which looks like a large Cox's Orange Pippin, with the characteristic red-orange streaks, but sometimes with a more yellow background.
The flesh is juicy but quite light, becoming almost powdery as it matures. The flavour is very sweet, but not bland - it has some of the aromatic qualities of Cox's Orange Pippin and is reminscent of pears.
Charles Ross can be used as a dessert variety. The flavour is quite sharp in September but sweetens if you keep it. It is also a useful cooking variety. When fresh from the tree the flesh does not entirely breakdown into a puree, so it is ideal if you like apple pies with chunky apple pieces. Being quite large and juicy it is also a good variety for making your own fresh apple juice.
Summary
- Parentage: Cox x Peasgood Nonsuch
- Origin: England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1890
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 101000
Identification
- Bultitude apple group: 4. Flushed / striped, smooth, dessert / dual-purpose
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for cooking
- Cooking result: Keeps shape
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sweeter
- Ripening period: Mid season
- Use / keeping: 1-2 months
Growing
- Cropping: Good
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Average growth
- Gardening skill: Easy
- Attractive fruit
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Mature tree heights for this variety (approximate)
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.1 ft 0.6 m |
2.6 ft 0.8 m |
3.2 ft 1.0 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
| M27 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
| M9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Geneva 16 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.9 ft 1.5 m |
6.1 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.6 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
| M26 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| Geneva 30 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| MM102 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| M7 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M116 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| MM106 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.3 ft 3.8 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
| MM111 | 8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.7 ft 4.5 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
| Bud.118 | 9.8 ft 3.0 m |
12.3 ft 3.8 m |
14.7 ft 4.5 m |
17.2 ft 5.3 m |
19.6 ft 6.0 m |
| M25 | 11.2 ft 3.4 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
19.6 ft 6.0 m |
22.4 ft 6.9 m |
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
