Katy apple
A very attractive and easy-to-grow early apple variety from Sweden, properly called Katya - Katy is the anglicised name.
Katy is an attractive medium-sized apple, usually bright red in colour over a light green yellow background. The flesh is a pale cream colour, and on the softer side of crunchy. Katy is usually a very juicy, and when fresh from the tree the juice goes everywhere as you bite into it. It has a fairly mild apple flavour, a bit of refreshing acidity, and in a good year a hint of strawberry. The flavour is perhaps not the greatest, but certainly very pleasant. If you have a surplus (and with Katy you generally do have a surplus), then Katy is an especially good apple for juicing - the juice is a lovely red/orange colour - similar to pink grapefruit juice in colour.
Katy is an easy-going early-season apple. The pretty appearance and juicy flavour mean it is popular with children, and it becomes available just in time for lunch-boxes for the new school term. As well as being easy to eat, it is also one of the easiest apple varieties to grow - very productive, and trouble-free. An extra bonus for gardeners is that Katy produces a lot of blossom over a long-period, so is very useful to aid in pollinating other apple varieties.
Katy originates from Sweden, where it is known as Katya, and as such is well-suited to growing in cool temperate climates. It was developed in 1947 as a cross between James Grieve and Worcester Pearmain and is very much a mixture of these two varieties. Worcester Pearmain is an English early-season variety from the 19th century, which used to be quite widely grown. Its most recognisable trait is a subtle strawberry flavour, and this is also sometimes present in Katy. James Grieve is another early-season variety, and its most notable characteristic is lots and lots of acidic juice. As an early-season variety, Katy is one of the best apple varieties for northern temperate growing areas with shorter growing areas, since it will ripen even in a poor summer.
For an interesting tasting exercise, see if you can find Elton Beauty or Lord Lambourne - like Katy, these are both crosses between James Grieve and Worcester Pearmain.
Katy is available for a few weeks in late August and early September. Like most early varieties it is very refreshing when straight from the tree, but goes soft after a while - best kept in a refrigerator and nice to eat when cool rather than at room temperature. Fortunately the apples keep nicely on the tree and can be picked over a period of about 2-3 weeks.
Although usually regarded as a dessert apple, thanks to its inherent acidity Katy is also a useful culinary apple - try it as the basis of apple crumble or tarte tatin. It breaks down into soft chunks during cooking, with a good sweet/sharp flavour.
In summary, Katy is a really excellent apple for gardeners in temperate climates. It produces an attractive neat tree, very easy to grow, and highly productive, and the fruit can be eaten fresh or juiced or even used for cooking.
Also known as
- katya
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: James Grieve x Worcester Pearmain
- Origin: Sweden
- Introduced: 1947
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 103600
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Green
- Flesh colour: White
- Fruit size: Medium
- Bultitude apple group: 6. Red flushed, smooth, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for cooking
- Good for juice
- Good for hard cider
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sharper
- Ripening period: Early-Mid season
- Use / keeping: 1 week
Growing
- Cropping: Heavy
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Good pollinator: Yes
- Vigour: Slightly large
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- Attractive tree
- Attractive blossom
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
- Suitable for NW. Scotland?: Yes
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- James Grieve (parent)
- Worcester Pearmain (parent)
Siblings of this variety (same parentage):
See also:
- Sunrise - Katy and Sunrise ripen at the same time (late August in the UK) yet have completely different parentage
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 Katy 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
- Alan Ricketts in WHITSTABLE, KENT
- Alex in
- Andrew Guille in GUERNSEY
- Anja Britton in NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
- Anne Lambert in BALLYCASTLE, Co.Antrim
- Bruce Nottrodt in TAUNTON, SOMERSET
- David Cook in BROADSTONE, DORSET
- David Hill in BRAINTREE, ESSEX
- Elizabeth Moriarty in OXFORD, oxon
- Eric Hill in BRISTOL, South Gloucestershire
- Frances in IVYBRIDGE, Devon
- Ian Jones in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
- James in MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE
- Jane Eve in Martley, Worcs
- Janet Brown in CARNOUSTIE, Angus
- Jim Laidlaw in EDINBURGH, LOTHIAN
- John Dench in ETCHINGHAM, EAST SUSSEX
- John Mullen in KILMARNOCK, ayrshire
- Jon Drakes in KEELBY, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Jon Drakes in KEELBY, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Jon Drakes in KEELBY, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Jon Drakes in KEELBY, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Julian Harrop in Durham, Co Durham
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
- Mark Davies in SADDLEWORTH, YORKSHIRE
- Mike Snelgrove in ABERGAVENNY, MONMOUTHSHIRE
- Neil Poulsom in Alford, Lincolnshhire
- Peter Tyler in EYE, SUFFOLK
- Richard Borrie in YORK, Yorkshire
- Rob Edwards in Ilfracombe, Devon
- Robert Wagner in NR KILMARNOCK, AYRSHIRE
- Roy Stephenson in NORTH SHIELDS, TYNE AND WEAR
- Steph Green in CHELMSFORD, ESSEX
- Stephen Johnston in PERTH,
- Victoria Birkett in ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
- Victoria Thorne in RUTLAND,
Ireland
- Simon Clarke in DULEEK, COUNTY MEATH
- Ute Bohnsack in KILFENORA, CLARE
Poland
- Richard in KRAKOW,
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- 18th April 2011 - tree owned by James in MELBOURNE, United Kingdom
- 16th April 2011 - tree owned by Eric in BRISTOL, United Kingdom
- 15th April 2011 - tree owned by Mark in SADDLEWORTH, United Kingdom
- 12th April 2011 - tree owned by Alan in WHITSTABLE, United Kingdom
- 12th April 2011 - tree owned by David in BROADSTONE, United Kingdom
- 12th April 2011 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
- 10th April 2011 - tree owned by Simon in DULEEK, Ireland
- 10th April 2011 - tree owned by Bruce in TAUNTON, United Kingdom
- April 2011 - tree owned by Roy in NORTH SHIELDS, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 2nd May 2010 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
2009 season
- May 2009 - tree owned by Anne in BALLYCASTLE, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
- 1st week September 2011 - tree owned by James in MELBOURNE, United Kingdom
- September 2011 - tree owned by Roy in NORTH SHIELDS, United Kingdom
- 4th week August 2011 - tree owned by Ute in KILFENORA, Ireland
- 4th week August 2011 - tree owned by Simon in DULEEK, Ireland
- 4th week August 2011 - tree owned by Bruce in TAUNTON, United Kingdom
- 2nd week August 2011 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 3rd week August 2010 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
- 3rd week August 2010 - tree owned by Jane in Martley, United Kingdom
- 3rd week August 2010 - tree owned by Ian in Bromsgrove, United Kingdom
- 3rd week August 2010 - tree owned by Mike in ABERGAVENNY, United Kingdom
- August 2010 - tree owned by Ute in KILFENORA, Ireland
2009 season
Mature heights for Katy trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Katy 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 | 2.8 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 |
| M27 | 3.2 ft 1.0 m |
4.0 ft 1.2 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
6.4 ft 2.0 m |
| M9 | 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 |
| Bud.9 | 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 |
| Geneva 16 | 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 |
| Geneva 11 | 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 |
| M26 | 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 |
| Geneva 30 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
12.8 ft 3.9 m |
| MM102 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
12.8 ft 3.9 m |
| M7 | 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 |
| M116 | 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 |
| MM106 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
16.0 ft 4.9 m |
| MM111 | 9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
19.2 ft 5.9 m |
| Bud.118 | 10.4 ft 3.2 m |
13.0 ft 4.0 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
18.2 ft 5.6 m |
20.8 ft 6.4 m |
| M25 | 12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
24.0 ft 7.4 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Katy apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
United Kingdom Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
The following orchards and suppliers offer Katy apples for sale. map >
United Kingdommap >
-
England - midlandsmap >
-
England - south-eastmap >
- a'Beckett's, Devizes
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