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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Worcester Pearmain Apple tree

Owner: Frank

Location:  Peacehaven, EAST SUSSEX, United Kingdom

Age:Planted in about 1980
Age of this tree:45 years
Soil:loam on chalk 
Climate at this location:Maritime mild coastal. Occasional southwesterly gales are killers.
Pruning:Prune heavily every other year.
Tree form:Standard
Height:Between 6ft / 2m and 15ft / 4m
Cropping:Medium crops
Growth:This tree grows easily here
Herbicides:Manual treatment (hoeing and weeding)
Pesticides:Un-treated
Local pests:Coddling moth and Starlings

Owner's comments

On the few occasions I have been in a position to pick a full ripe apple from the tree I can honestly say there is nothing to touch it for flavour and crispness. A true delight. Unfortunately the ravages of local weather, moths and birds coupled with an uncanny ability of my wife to book a distant holiday just as the fruit ripens means that it is indeed a rare event. This year (2013) will be no different as we will be some 8,000 miles away when the moment arrives.

Season records for this tree

  • 2013

    Spring blossom: 25 May
    Harvest: 4th week September  10kg / 22lbs
    Size: 4.0m / 13.3ft high   2.5m / 8.3ft wide
    Codling moth: Severe attack
    Following the coldest and longest winter on record for the southeast of England my Worcester did not blossom until mid to late May, some five weeks later than average. However it did produce a heavy blossom unlike its neighbouring COP which had almost none. I am writing this on the 21st September and still waiting for the apples to ripen. This usually happens in late August. Alas! I shall be cruising the Caribbean for the next three weeks and will miss my lovely sweet and crispy Worcesters. Som

  • 2012

    Spring blossom: 20 April
    Size: 3.5m / 11.7ft high   2.5m / 8.3ft wide
    Following a very dry spring and a very wet summer there was little fruit for me. The birds (starlings, blackbirds, sparrows et al) ate most whilst they were on the tree and not yet ripe.

  • 2011

    Spring blossom: 15 April
    Very dry Spring with many warm days in April. For the first year I can remember this tree and its neighbouring partner, a Cox's Orange Pippin, are in full bloom together. A lovely sight.

  • 2010

    Spring blossom: 25 May
    Harvest: 2nd week September
    Heavy crop but some damaged by coddling moth and rot. No heavy SW winds. Hence possibly too much fruit. But there was an abundance of superb apples as well.

  • 2009

    Spring blossom: 27 April
    Harvest: 3rd week August
    Very poor crop due to too many summer southwesterly gales (salt burn).