Falstaff apple
Popular garden apple tree, very heavy crops, easy to grow, very juicy.
In apple terms Falstaff is brand-new - it was developed in Kent in the 1980s. For modern growers appearance is of great importance, and there is no doubt that Falstaff is a very attractive apple, reasonably large in size and with a lovely red flush over a golden yellow background.
Falstaff is another variation on a familiar modern theme - growers attempting to improve on Golden Delicious. Whilst Falstaff probably owes its size and yellow background colour to Golden Delicious, when it comes to flavour it really takes after its other parent - James Grieve, a juicy and pleasantly acidic apple which arose in Scotland in the 1890s.
There is also a red sport - Red Falstaff - which has identical characteristics apart from the colour which is a more attractive and pronounced shade of red.
Falstaff is crunchy and juicy straight from the tree, with light cream coloured flesh. It mellows and softens somewhat as it ages, but remains juicy. The flavour lacks the complexity of the Victorian apples, but is nevertheless a very well-balanced combination of sweetness - from Golden Delicious - and acidity - from James Grieve. We tend to find that the James Grieve parentage probably has the greater impact on Falstaff's flavour, and it is pleasingly sharp when picked from the tree (which is actually the best way to enjoy it). There is something in the flavour for fans of the older classic English style as well - it is quite likely that one of its grandparents is Cox's Orange Pippin.
Like many James Grieve offspring, this is also a good apple for making your own apple juice.
As a variety for the garden Falstaff and Red Falstaff are amongst the best. The quantity and quality of apples produced is matched only by the lack of effort required - even the most hopeless gardener should be successful with this variety. It does have a slight susceptibility to scab, but this is rarely a problem. In our experience this is also an apple which almost everyone really enjoys, from the conoisseur to those who profess not to like apples - it does everything you expect an apple to do.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: James Grieve x Golden Delicious
- Origin: England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1965
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 104900
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Orange flush
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for juice
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Sweet/Sharp
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 2-3 weeks
Growing
- Cropping: Heavy
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-fertile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Slightly small
- Precocity: Precocious
- Gardening skill: Very easy
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Golden Delicious (parent)
- James Grieve (parent)
Offspring of this variety:
Sports (natural genetic mutations) of this variety:
Falstaff identification photos from official fruit collections
Falstaff identification photos from website visitors
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Falstaff trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United Kingdom
- Alex in
- Barbara in GT. YARMOUTH, NORFOLK
- Bruce Nottrodt in TAUNTON, SOMERSET
- Craig Bridge in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
- David Cook in BROADSTONE, DORSET
- David Kenning in WHITSTABLE, KENT
- Emma Dando in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire
- Frances Scott in Basildon, Essex
- Janet Brown in CARNOUSTIE, Angus
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
- M Shipman in NORTHAMPTON, NORTHANTS
- Mr and Mrs Taylor in BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS
- Nick Cahm in SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDLANDS
- Pete High in Cumbria
- Peter Selby in Swadlincote, Derbyshire
- Rebecca Gillard in LYDD, KENT
- Rosemary Owen in New Milton, Hampshire
- Roy in COVENTRY, WARWICKSHIRE
- Savvas Neophytou in CROSBY, Merseyside
- Somewhere in LONDON,
- Stan Watt in GARDENSTOWN, ABERDEENSHIRE
- Victoria Dodds in LOUGHGALL, CO ARMAGH
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- 19th April 2011 - tree owned by M in NORTHAMPTON, United Kingdom
- 18th April 2011 - tree owned by Mr a in BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
- 16th April 2011 - tree owned by Bruce in TAUNTON, United Kingdom
- 15th April 2011 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
- 3rd April 2011 - tree owned by Roy in COVENTRY, United Kingdom
- 1st April 2011 - tree owned by Savvas in CROSBY, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 14th May 2010 - tree owned by Victoria in LOUGHGALL, United Kingdom
- 10th May 2010 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
- 9th May 2010 - tree owned by Roy in COVENTRY, United Kingdom
- 12th April 2010 - tree owned by Savvas in CROSBY, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 6th May 2009 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
- 3rd week October 2011 - tree owned by Bruce in TAUNTON, United Kingdom
- 1st week October 2011 - tree owned by Mr a in BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
- 1st week September 2011 - tree owned by Roy in COVENTRY, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 2nd week October 2010 - tree owned by Victoria in LOUGHGALL, United Kingdom
- 2nd week October 2010 - tree owned by Roy in COVENTRY, United Kingdom
- 1st week October 2010 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 1st week October 2009 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
Mature heights for Falstaff trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Falstaff tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| 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 | 2.4 ft 0.7 m |
3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
| M9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Bud.9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 16 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 11 | 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 |
| M26 | 4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
| Geneva 30 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| MM102 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| M7 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| M116 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| MM106 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
| MM111 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| Bud.118 | 7.8 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.7 ft 3.6 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
| M25 | 9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Falstaff apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
United Kingdom Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.
Rate this variety for flavor