Falstaff apple
Malus domestica
Popular garden apple tree, very heavy crops, easy to grow, very juicy.
Parentage: James Grieve x Golden Delicious
Origin: England
Introduced: 1965
Season: Oct-Dec
Apple cultivar ID: 104900
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.
It is interesting to compare Falstaff with the equivalent varieties from the Victorian era a hundred years earlier. The fashion then was for the russet autumnal colouring found in Victorian favourites such as Adams Pearmain or Ribston Pippin. In contrast, Falstaff is brighter and brasher, and stands out well from the modern competition.
Falstaff is also more up to date when it comes to flavour and texture. It 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 a 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. 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.
There is also a red sport - Red Falstaff - which has identical characteristics apart from the colour which is a dull red shade.
We have Falstaff apple trees for sale from the Orange Pippin fruit tree shop
Apple Tree Register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details on our Apple Tree Register here.
Relationships to other apple varieties
Offspring of this variety:
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Golden Delicious (parent)
- James Grieve (parent)
Discuss Falstaff in our Forums
| 19 Nov 2008 20:38 | Peter McFadden | |
| I planted a Falstaff six years ago in 2002. It produced a terrific crop in 2007 and 2008, lovely flavour, very juicy. It's one of the best of my 20 apple trees. I keep eight hives of bees near the orchard and the bees and the fruit go very well together. Fruit growing is becoming very popular in the Conwy Valley. | ||
| 09 Nov 2007 10:45 | Mike McPhun | |
| We have a 4 year old tree bought as "Red Falstaff", and the ripe fruit is identical to the above illustration. However we find that the apples are very late to ripen in this area. Picked in mid October they are too sour for dessert, but delicious cooked. Left on the tree longer, in past years they have been attacked by scab. This year we had 6 good specimens left ripening on the tree, but last week they disappeared overnight! | ||
| 17 Oct 2007 18:20 | Gabriel Levine | |
| You state that Falstaff has the same parentage as Greensleeves (G/Del x J/Grieve). Yet it looks & tastes quite different. Have you got the parentage right? Falstaff is a new apple to me, 1st seen & tasted last Sunday. However this was labelled Red Falstaff. Is this the same as Falstaff? | ||
Identification photos
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Red Falstaff - a sport of Falstaff with an attractive red flush
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Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Falstaff apple trees for sale:
-
Red Falstaff apple trees for sale
Orange Pippin Shop
Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Deliver nationallyHigh quality Red Falstaff apple trees available in various sizes.More supplier details
Where to buy apples
No fruit suppliers listed for this variety.
Apple tree register
The following Falstaff trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree:
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Janet Brown
CARNOUSTIE, Angus, United Kingdom -
Somewhere
LONDON, United Kingdom -
Roger Drage
BURTON LATIMER, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom -
Craig Bridge
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom -
russell allan
rugby, warwickshire, United Kingdom -
Emma Dando
Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom -
Rosemary Owen
New Milton, Hampshire, United Kingdom -
Peter Selby
Swadlincote, Derbyshire, United Kingdom -
Frances Scott
Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom - See a map of these trees
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please found out more about our Apple Tree Register here and register your apple trees.
Variety request
Is your favourite variety not listed here? We are constantly adding new variety details, so please use our contact form to suggest new varieties.
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