Saturn apple
Malus domestica
An excellent modern English variety
Parentage: Starkspur Golden Delicious x scab resistant
Origin: England
Introduced: 1980
Season: Sep-Feb
Apple cultivar ID: 105500
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).
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. More information on both these varieties can be found at the East Malling Research Apple and Pear Breeding Club.
Relationships to other apple varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety
- Golden Delicious (parent)
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Saturn apple trees for sale:
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Keepers Nursery
, Kent, United Kingdom (Deliver nationally)
Available November-March
More supplier details
Where to buy fruit and related products
No fruit suppliers listed for this variety.
Apple tree register
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