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

Falstaff apple

Falstaff

In apple terms Falstaff is brand-new - it was developed in Kent in the 1980s. For modern growers appearance is of great importance, and there is no doubt that Falstaff is a very attractive apple, reasonably large in size and with a lovely red flush over a golden yellow background.

Falstaff is another variation on a familiar modern theme - growers attempting to improve on Golden Delicious. Whilst Falstaff probably owes its size and yellow background colour to Golden Delicious, when it comes to flavour it really takes after its other parent - James Grieve, a juicy and pleasantly acidic apple which arose in Scotland in the 1890s.

There is also a red sport - Red Falstaff - which has identical characteristics apart from the colour which is a more attractive and pronounced shade of red.

Falstaff is crunchy and juicy straight from the tree, with light cream coloured flesh. It mellows and softens somewhat as it ages, but remains juicy. The flavour lacks the complexity of the Victorian apples, but is nevertheless a very well-balanced combination of sweetness - from Golden Delicious - and acidity - from James Grieve. We tend to find that the James Grieve parentage probably has the greater impact on Falstaff's flavour, and it is pleasingly sharp when picked from the tree (which is actually the best way to enjoy it). There is something in the flavour for fans of the older classic English style as well - it is quite likely that one of its grandparents is Cox's Orange Pippin.

Like many James Grieve offspring, this is also a good apple for making your own apple juice.

As a variety for the garden Falstaff and Red Falstaff are amongst the best.  The quantity and quality of apples produced is matched only by the lack of effort required - even the most hopeless gardener should be successful with this variety.  It does have a slight susceptibility to scab, but this is rarely a problem.  In our experience this is also an apple which almost everyone really enjoys, from the conoisseur to those who profess not to like apples - it does everything you expect an apple to do.

Falstaff apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Falstaff

USDA identification images for Falstaff

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Parents and other ancestors of this variety


    Offspring of this variety


    Sports of this variety

    Sports are natural genetic mutations of the original variety.


    Visitor reviews

    • 12 Oct 2011  ESSEX, United Kingdom
      have had a Falstaff apple tree about 16 years. Very prolific crop this year.Your tasting notes are very accurate. This year the coddling moth attacked the fruit. I have blanched and stored the peeled apples in the freezer for pies etc. Next year I wll put up a trap for the coddling moth at the end of the garden. Hopefully The result should be a bumper perfect crop.
    • 16 Jun 2011  ESSEX, United Kingdom
      We bought a Red Falstaff last May and had a reasonable crop of large and very tasty apples in September. This year it has gone quite mad and is in danger of pulling itself over, it has so many apples. It's my first go at apples and is a real delight.
    • 07 Oct 2010  CORNWALL, United Kingdom
      I have a 5 year old Red Falstaff sold to me as a dessert/cider apple. Reliable heavy cropper. albeit late - just ripe now early October - of most attractive, tasty red fruit. Has anyone made cider from it? What are the keeping qualities (outside the fridge)?
    • 19 Nov 2008  CONWY VALLEY, NORTH WALES, United Kingdom
      I planted a Falstaff six years ago in 2002. It produced a terrific crop in 2007 and 2008, lovely flavour, very juicy. It's one of the best of my 20 apple trees. I keep eight hives of bees near the orchard and the bees and the fruit go very well together. Fruit growing is becoming very popular in the Conwy Valley.
    • 09 Nov 2007  NORTHUMBERLAND, United Kingdom
      We have a 4 year old tree bought as "Red Falstaff", and the ripe fruit is identical to the above illustration. However we find that the apples are very late to ripen in this area. Picked in mid October they are too sour for dessert, but delicious cooked. Left on the tree longer, in past years they have been attacked by scab. This year we had 6 good specimens left ripening on the tree, but last week they disappeared overnight!
    • 17 Oct 2007  TORQUAY, United Kingdom
      You state that Falstaff has the same parentage as Greensleeves (G/Del x J/Grieve). Yet it looks & tastes quite different. Have you got the parentage right? Falstaff is a new apple to me, 1st seen & tasted last Sunday. However this was labelled Red Falstaff. Is this the same as Falstaff?
    • 15 Oct 2007  SOMERSET, United Kingdom
      Your tasting notes are spot on. Falstaff is a lovely apple. In reply to Jean Swinton, don't pick Falstaff too early. Early October is about right. Store in a 'fridge if you can, it keeps best if kept really cold.
    • 10 Sep 2007  CLACTON-ON-SEA, United Kingdom
      We have a small Falstaff in our garden. When is the best time to pick the apples. Last year we left it too late we think. They are a lovely apple.

    Tree register

    United Kingdom

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2021 season

    • 6th May  2021  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2020 season

    • 15th April  2020  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2019 season

    • 1st May  2019  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2018 season

    • 8th May  2018  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 14th April  2017  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 12th May  2016  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 27th May  2015  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 14th May  2014  - tree owned by stanwatt2008@hotmail.co.uk in Gardenstown, United Kingdom
    • 7th May  2014  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 5th May  2014  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • 24th April  2014  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 2nd June  2013  - tree owned by stanwatt2008@hotmail.co.uk in Gardenstown, United Kingdom
    • 16th May  2013  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 15th May  2013  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • 11th May  2013  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 9th May  2012  - tree owned by stanwatt2008@hotmail.co.uk in Gardenstown, United Kingdom
    • 6th May  2012  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom
    • 1st May  2012  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • 20th April  2012  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 8th May  2011  - tree owned by stanwatt2008@hotmail.co.uk in Gardenstown, United Kingdom
    • 19th April  2011  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom
    • 18th April  2011  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • 16th April  2011  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 15th April  2011  - tree owned by David in Broadstone, United Kingdom
    • 3rd April  2011  - tree owned by Roy in Coventry, United Kingdom
    • 1st April  2011  - tree owned by Savvas in Crosby, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 14th May  2010  - tree owned by Victoria in Loughgall, United Kingdom
    • 10th May  2010  - tree owned by David in Broadstone, United Kingdom
    • 9th May  2010  - tree owned by Roy in Coventry, United Kingdom
    • 12th April  2010  - tree owned by Savvas in Crosby, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • 6th May  2009  - tree owned by David in Broadstone, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2023 season

    • 1st week October  2023  - tree owned by Martin in Brierley Hill, United Kingdom

    2022 season

    • 2nd week September  2022  - tree owned by Nick in Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom

    2021 season

    • 3rd week September  2021  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2020 season

    • 2nd week October  2020  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2019 season

    • 4th week September  2019  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2018 season

    • 3rd week September  2018  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 2nd week September  2017  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 1st week October  2016  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 1st week October  2015  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 4th week September  2014  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 4th week October  2013  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 4th week September  2012  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 4th week October  2011  - tree owned by M in Northampton, United Kingdom
    • 3rd week October  2011  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 1st week October  2011  - tree owned by J in Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • 1st week September  2011  - tree owned by Roy in Coventry, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 2nd week October  2010  - tree owned by Roy in Coventry, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week October  2010  - tree owned by Victoria in Loughgall, United Kingdom
    • 1st week October  2010  - tree owned by David in Broadstone, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • 1st week October  2009  - tree owned by David in Broadstone, United Kingdom

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: James Grieve x Golden Delicious
    • Originates from: England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1965
    • Developed by: East Malling Research
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1972-184

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Flower colour: Pink - light
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Awards: RHS AGM (former)

    Using

    • Picking season: Late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Discoloration of fruit: Oxidising
    • Cropping: Heavy
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Juice
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Attractive features: Attractive flowers
    • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

    Climate

    • Frost resistance of blossom: Good resistance
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Cold hardiness (RHS): H6 (to -20C)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Average
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some susceptibility

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.



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