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

Red Falstaff Apple tree

Owner: nigeleholmes@icloud.com

Location:  Abergele, CONWY, United Kingdom

Age:Planted in about 2006
Age of this tree:19 years
Soil:Clay, hardcore, rocks and 200mm topsoil. 
Climate at this location:Coastal. Windy, reasonable sun and rain. Little snow and frost less severe than inland.
Pruning:Yes
Tree form:Bush (wider at top than bottom)
Height:Between 6ft / 2m and 15ft / 4m
Cropping:Heavy crops
Growth:This tree grows fairly well here
Herbicides:Manual treatment (hoeing and weeding)
Pesticides:Chemical treatments
Local pests:Codling moth

Owner's comments

The general lack of hot sun prevents the fruit from achieving a decent red coloration, particularly in August and September. Soil had to be well worked prior to planting and is top dressed annually with Growmore and compost mulch. Unattended trees next door are haven for Codling Moths which happily hop over the fence. I use traps and time my spraying when numbers of moths caught indicate they are active. I leave picking to as late as possible if weather is fine but pick if strong wind is forecast - it is in most years - usually by the second week in October and stored in my garage. Average yield is very good for a small tree which is typical of the variety. Although the fruits are more green coloured than red, they are quite acceptable when eaten having a fresh sharp taste but with sufficient sweetness to avoid being too acidic. Nice flavour.

Season records for this tree

  • 2013

    Spring blossom: 11 May
  • 2012

    Spring blossom: 25 April
  • 2011

    Spring blossom: 18 April
    Harvest: 2nd week October
    Almost an exact repeat of the previous year with fruit not acquiring red coloration, probably due to poor mid-summer weather.
  • 2010

    Spring blossom: 7 May
    Harvest: 2nd week October
    Good pollination and reasonable growing season produced a good crop. Unfortunately dull weather in September and October prevented the apples acquiring red flush.
  • 2009

    Spring blossom: 10 May
    Harvest: 3rd week October
    Cold weather during pollination period caused a two-stage apple crop.