The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Scrumptious apple

A new early-season English dessert apple, with very good flavour.

Scrumptious photo tape

Scrumptious is an excellent modern English early dessert apple, and popular in tasting tests.  It was raised by English apple enthusiast Hugh Ermen in the 1980s and intended for gardeners who wanted an early-season apple variety with a bit more flavour than other early varieties.  Scrumptious is a great example of how growers are once again looking at flavour as the most important characteristic in a good apple.

Scrumptious has the right pedigree, and more than lives up to the expectations set by its parents. It gets its sweetness from Golden Delicious, but there are also the fresh strawberry flavours from Worcester Pearmain and Discovery. The rosy red colouring and white flesh is also typical of Discovery. Whereas Discovery tends to be fairly small, Scrumptious is a bit more substantial and similar in size to a small Golden Delicious.  The colours are also more robust, although like any early apple variety the amount of sunlight in the short growing season can significantly affect the extent of the red flush.  (Later varieties are more likely to have uniform coloration because the amount of sunshine averages out over the longer ripening period).  The occasional flecks of russet are also similar to Discovery.

The flavour is sweet but not sugary - there is a balancing acidity. Although not a hard apple, the flesh snaps cleanly when you bite into it, again rather like a good Golden Delicious. We have also noticed, occasionally, a very slight aniseed flavour.  Don't let this put you off, as it is more of a background sensation than an actual flavour, but it is part of the reason why Scrumptious has more depth of flavour than other early varieties.  This suggests that there could perhaps be some Ellison's Orange somewhere in the mix.  Ellison's Orange has a pronounced aniseed flavour, and is another early apple variety, but with a lot more complexity and richness than the mainstream early varieties.

This is very much a case of the child exceeding its parents: if you like Golden Delicious or are a fan of the popular English earlies like Worcester and Discovery, then you will love Scrumptious. In terms of flavour and instant snack-appeal, it sets a new standard amongst early apples.  Being relatively new, and not popular as a commercial variety, it can be difficult to buy Scumptious apples, but it is now widely available from fruit tree nurseries, and is an excellent choice if you want an early apple variety for the garden.

Update March 2010. Scrumptious has just been given the 'Award of Garden Merit' by the UK Royal Horticultural Society - the first apple variety to be thus recognised for more than 10 years, and a fitting tribute to Hugh Ermen who passed away in 2009 .  For more details see this blog post by Graham Rice.

Last updated 16 Dec 2010.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Starkspur Golden Delicious x Discovery
  • Origin: England, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: Hugh Ermen, 1980
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 105600

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style: Aromatic
  • Ripening period: Early-Mid season
  • Use / keeping: 1 week

Growing

  • Cropping: Good
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-fertile
  • Triploid: No
  • Vigour: Slightly small
  • Gardening skill: Very easy
  • General disease resistance: Average

Climate

  • Suitable for temperate climates
  • Suitable for NW. Scotland?: Yes
  • Suitable for N. England?: Yes

Other qualities

  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

See also:

Scrumptious identification photos from website visitors


Scrumptious, slightly over-ripe tape


Scrumptious, slightly over-ripe

New open blossom tape


New open blossom

Fully open blossom tape


Fully open blossom


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 7
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

09 Sep 2011 Simone WilkieDEVON, United Kingdom
I bought a bag of these apples for my mother from a supermarket. We tasted them together and were very disappointed, at first taste they were sweet and juicy with a crisp texture but were left with a dry metalic aftertaste in out mouths. Very disappointing but I'm happy to discover at this point as it was one of the apples I had shortlisted to grow on my allotment! Possibly it is better eaten fresh from the tree?
19 Oct 2010 William PearsonCUMBRIA, United Kingdom
I planted a maiden Scrumptious on M27 rootstock in the autumn of 2004. I have trained it on wires horizontally 300mm apart and has now filled the allotted space - 4m spread. The heavy crop this year about 80lbs was a sight to behold. The biggest problem is scab which has been bad in previous years but almost eliminated this year with a couple of sprays after petal fall. Agree with other comments about looks, texture and flavour. Good apples are hard to grow here 200m high in Cumbria but I would certainly recommend Scrumptious.
10 Apr 2010 N. BuckCAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom
A nice apple, with fairly good disease resistance, although gets some scab on the leaves in most years. Like many of the tasty August-September apples, I find them to be very badly attacked by codling maggots and wasps.
01 Oct 2009 Dawn ComptonOXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
I bought a Scrumptious dwarf (M27) in March 2006. already corresponded with Richard about colour of this apple which is nothing like the pictures. It is quite stripey on a creamish background. A very good crop this September, as other correspondents note, branches very weak for a large crop. The fruit is very sweet and has a decided flavour of aniseed, which we like very much. I can submit another photo if required
18 Sep 2009 Mrs Leonie OldfieldDORSET, United Kingdom
My little tree is loaded with very tasty fruit much loved by grandchildren! I have done nothing to assist my tree after a very busy year and there are absolutely no signs of any pests or diseases, good going for very light sandy soil.
30 Aug 2009 Ruth LeighBRISTOL, United Kingdom
Had my tree now for 4 years, (brought in March 2005) and is loaded with fruit. We also have it supported with string and canes. Some of the apples have rotted due I think to the codling moth getting in them, ( my fault, didn!t change the lure in time after 5 wks.) Can anyone tell me why they start to go brown so quickly once you start eating them? Apart from that they are a lovely apple.
25 Aug 2009 GilesSURREY, United Kingdom
What a fantastic apple. Being a relative novice at fruit growing and in particular apples, this has been an easy and trouble free tree. I have had to support the branches with canes and string due to the weight bounty that was developing. Great 1st crop, picking some that have been nibbled by wasps today 25th August - absolutely stunning flavour, crisp, sweet but not too sweet. I pick up that hint of aniseed after taste which is in no way unpleasant or over bearing but just adds to the complexity of its flavour. The kids absolutely love this apple, especially as the skin is nice and thin.
24 Aug 2009 Jo GilbertCAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
Bought a small Scrumptious tree earlier this year and only allowed it to develop a few fruit, but on first testing, it was certainly a good buy. Nice, crisp, sweet fruit and was thankfully a big hit with my two year old daughter!
13 Oct 2008 David ThomsonHIGHLAND, SCOTLAND, United Kingdom
Cordon bought from Ken Muir now in its second year in my garden. Picking today 13th Sept and what a wonderful apple. Excellent crop of clean(untreated), good size apples, crisp yet juicy and so full of flavour. Red colour runs slightly into the flesh. Needs good support. I only allowed the cordon to develop a few apples last year to let the root system develop unhindered by a large crop. Ideal for the North.
21 Sep 2008 Alan GowlandNEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, United Kingdom
My small tree is in its second year and the weighty fruit is being supported by strings and canes! The apples are a beautifol red and the flavour is all that might be desired. An outstanding contribution to the garden.
27 Aug 2008 Julie RyallsUNSTONE DERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom
i have tasted scrumptious at the garden centre where i work and i can recommend it (and often do ) to people .i love sweet red apples and this is certainly that.i am going to treat myself to a minarette tree this autumn to add to my few other varieties of apple i have.
23 Aug 2008 Sean O'FlynnLEEDS, United Kingdom
I bought a bare rooted Scrumptious minarette from Ken Muir in January 2007. In its first season it produced a number of fantastic, crisp well flavoured bright red fruit. this year it has produced a few more equally colourful and good sized apples in what has been a poor season for my other apples and pears. Excellent, highly recomended.

Add your comments about this variety

Have you tasted this variety ? Do you agree or disagree with our tasting notes ? Enter your comments below. Please tell us your name (just first name if you wish) and email address, and if possible the nearest city. Your name and location, but not your email address, may be published on this website. All comments are reviewed before publishing.

Your email   required
Name   required
City   optional
State / County   optional
Country    required
Comments
Password   Create a password for your account
Organisation   optional
Security question: What is the 1st or 2nd word of the name of this website (in big letters in the banner of this page)?
Answer
We send 2-3 newsletters per year, please let us know if you would like to receive them. Rest assured that we do not buy or sell email addresses - for more details see our privacy policy.
Newsletters

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 Scrumptious 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



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2011 season

  • 29th April  2011  - tree owned by Stan in GARDENSTOWN, United Kingdom
  • 22nd April  2011  - tree owned by Barbara in GT. YARMOUTH, United Kingdom
  • 20th April  2011  - tree owned by David in SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom
  • 15th April  2011  - tree owned by Sean in leeds, United Kingdom
  • 14th April  2011  - tree owned by Ruth in Bristol., United Kingdom
  • 8th April  2011  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 31st April  2010  - tree owned by Stuart in Newbury, United Kingdom
  • 25th April  2010  - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
  • 25th April  2010  - tree owned by Darlene in TREFIN, United Kingdom
  • 24th April  2010  - tree owned by Ruth in Bristol., United Kingdom
  • April  2010  - tree owned by Caroline in DUNDEE, United Kingdom

2009 season

  • 18th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
  • 18th March  2009  - tree owned by Tom in Winchester, United Kingdom

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.

Latest harvest records for this variety

2011 season

  • 1st week October  2011  - tree owned by David in SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • October  2010  - tree owned by Caroline in DUNDEE, United Kingdom
  • 1st week August  2010  - tree owned by Ruth in Bristol., United Kingdom

2009 season

  • 3rd week September  2009  - tree owned by David in Oldmeldrum, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week September  2009  - tree owned by Ruth in Bristol., United Kingdom
  • 1st week September  2009  - tree owned by Sean in leeds, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week August  2009  - tree owned by Tom in Winchester, United Kingdom
  • August  2009  - tree owned by N. in CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom

Mature heights for Scrumptious trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Scrumptious 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 Scrumptious apple trees for sale:

Where to buy apples

The following orchards and suppliers offer Scrumptious apples for sale. map >

United Statesmap >


United Kingdommap >





©2011 Orange Pippin Ltd. All rights reserved. About us | Copyright statement | Contact us | Privacy policy | Disclaimer
You may not reproduce any of the content of this website withour our express permission.
We do not accept any liability for loss or damage incurred as a result of any errors in the content of this website.