Katy apple
Malus domestica
A very attractive and easy-to-grow early apple variety from Sweden.
Parentage: James Grieve x Worcester Pearmain
Origin: Sweden
Introduced: 1947
Season: Sept
Apple cultivar ID: 103600
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.
Katy originates from Sweden, where it is known as Katya, and as such is well-suited to growing in northern European 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 present in Katy (although it is very variable). James Grieve is another early-season variety, and its most notable characteristic is lots and lots of acidic juice.
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.
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, then Katy is an especially good apple for juicing - the juice is a lovely red/orange colour - similar to pink grapefruit juice in colour.
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.
It is perhaps not widely known, but Katy is also a useful culinary apple - try it as the basis of apple "crumble". It breaks down into soft chunks during cooking, with a good sweet/sharp flavour.
The 2007 season: 2007 has been a strange season in north west Europe. A superb hot dry spring was followed by months of heavy rain in June and July. The effect has been to bring forward the season for early apples quite dramatically. Vista Bella, normally available at the end of July, was over a week earlier than usual, and we are getting reports of Katy being ripe and ready for eating in the first week of August - a good 3-4 weeks early.
2008 season: another wet cool summer in north west Europe. Katy apples available from late August as usual, with good strong red coloration.
In summary, Katy is a really excellent apple for gardeners in northern Europe. 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. The only minor criticism is that the flavour, whilst perfectly acceptable for an early variety, is not the best. Purely in terms of flavour, Sunset and Estivale are probably better - but arguably neither are as versatile as Katy.
We have Katy 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
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
Discuss Katy in our Forums
| 14 Oct 2009 15:22 | Niamh | |
| My favorite apples we've ever grown. The red juice is amazing. | ||
| 09 Oct 2009 09:34 | Mary Macilwraith | |
| 'Katy' is one of our best trees (in this area of relatively high rainfall). It's reliable and - so far - free of disease. We have tried its parent 'James Grieve' with no success (died of canker) and our 'Worcester Permain' has some scab, but happliy 'Katy' seems a lot more resistant. I agree with the description of its flavour and popularity with children; our very young neighbour went straight to the tree and asked to pick one! | ||
| 26 Aug 2009 18:50 | katie saxby | |
| We have a small tree in our fairly small back garden against a sunny wall. eating the first ones today : ) They have a delicious flavour and texture i think, lovely colour, juicy, with a lovely undertaste and aftertaste that does taste quite strawberry....perhaps in the future when we have more, the juiced ones sound lovely, but they are so lovely raw, we're enjoying them as they are for now! | ||
Identification photos
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Katy apple
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Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Katy apple trees for sale:
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Katy apple trees for sale
Orange Pippin Shop
Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Deliver nationallyHigh quality Katy 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 Katy trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree:
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Stephen Johnston
PERTH, United Kingdom -
Neil Poulsom
Alford, Lincolnshhire, United Kingdom -
john mullen
KILMARNOCK, ayrshire, United Kingdom -
Victoria Thorne
RUTLAND, United Kingdom -
Ian Jones
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom -
Julian Harrop
Durham, Co Durham, United Kingdom -
Jane Eve
Martley, Worcs, United Kingdom -
Rob Edwards
Ilfracombe, Devon, 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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