Saturn apple
An excellent modern English apple variety, developed at the famous East Malling research station.
Saturn was introduced in 1997 by the famous East Malling Research Station in Kent, England. As such it reflects the "state of the art" in the development of new apple varieties in the UK.
Saturn is a medium-sized apple, smooth, rounded and with a lime green skin, largely covered in a deep red flush. The appearance is perhaps not quite up to the standard of some other modern varieties, but the flavour is particularly good. It is sweet but with a dollop of juicy acidity, and the sweetness has a good "apple" presence, rather than being sugary-sweet. It is firm to the bite, but the flesh snaps cleanly, and is very juicy. In short, a very appealing apple which will not disappoint.
Disease resistance is an increasingly important attribute for modern apple developers, as growers seek to reduce the amount of pesticides used in their orchards. The challenge is to come up with an apple which has the flavour modern consumers want, is easy and productive to grow, and yet has none of the undesirable side-effects often found in experimental varieties bred exclusively for disease resistance. Saturn is a typical example of this development process, being a cross between an un-named scab and disease resistant variety (PRI 1235) and a sport of Golden Delicious (Starkspur Golden Delicious). We understand the un-named hybrid is distantly related to Jonathan, a high-quality American apple.
Note that many authorities incorrectly state that Saturn is related to Falstaff and Cox's Orange Pippin.
Although aimed at commercial and organic growers, Saturn could have promise as a garden variety, since the built-in disease resistance makes it very suitable for the "un-treated" regime favoured by many gardeners.
It is interesting to compare Saturn with Meridian, another modern variety from East Malling Research Station. We think Saturn has marginally more depth to it than Meridian - but these are both nice apples.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Starkspur Golden Delicious x scab resistant
- Origin: England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1980
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 105500
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sweeter
- Ripening period: Mid season early August
- Use / keeping: 1 week
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-fertile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Average growth
- Attractive fruit
Climate
- Suitable for NW. Scotland?: No
- May not crop in northern UK
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Golden Delicious (parent)
- Jonathan
Saturn identification photos from official fruit collections
Saturn 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 Saturn 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
- John Dench in ETCHINGHAM, EAST SUSSEX
- Mrs Cherry Steel in BINGLEY, West Yorkshire
- N. Buck in CAMBRIDGE, Cambridgeshire
- Peter And Christine in HAXTON SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE
Switzerland
- Helmut Mueller in NEUKIRCH, Thurgau
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- April 2011 - tree owned by Mrs Che in BINGLEY, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 28th April 2010 - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
- 15th April 2010 - tree owned by Peter in HAXTON SALISBURY, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 19th April 2009 - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
2010 season
- 3rd week October 2010 - tree owned by Peter in HAXTON SALISBURY, United Kingdom
2009 season
- September 2009 - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
Mature heights for Saturn trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Saturn 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 | 2.5 ft 0.8 m |
3.1 ft 0.9 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.3 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 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 | 5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.6 ft 2.0 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.2 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 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 | 9.1 ft 2.8 m |
11.4 ft 3.5 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.9 ft 4.9 m |
18.2 ft 5.6 m |
| M25 | 10.5 ft 3.2 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.4 ft 5.6 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
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