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

Gladstone apple

Gladstone
An old English summer apple, dating back to the 1780s, but re-introduced in 1868 by Mr Jackson of Blakedown Nursery as Jackson's Seedling. Renamed Gladstone in 1883.

Gladstone apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Gladstone
  • Gladstone
  • Gladstone
  • Gladstone

USDA identification images for Gladstone

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

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Gladstone
  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Gladstone

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

Offspring of this variety


Visitor reviews

  • 05 Aug 2020  CARMARTHENSHIRE, United Kingdom
    Delightfully early, sweet and pretty. First week of August here in Wales. Our gardener says "eat it within the first half hour of picking". A little floury to some people's taste.
  • 15 Oct 2016  MEATH, Ireland
    Tend to go floury, but the apple grows on you. Excellent, aromatic taste develops in your mouth.

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Ireland

Harvest records for this variety

2016 season

  • August  2016  - tree owned by Lars in Trim, Ireland

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Parentage: Unknown
  • Originates from: Kidderminster, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: 1780
  • Developed by: Mr Jackson of Blakedown Nursery
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 2000-036
  • We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.

Identification

  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Period of origin: 1750 - 1799
  • Fruit colour: Red
  • Flower colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Annual cycle: Deciduous

Using

  • Picking season: Very early
  • Keeping (of fruit): 1-3 days
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Food uses: Eating fresh
  • Picking period: early August
  • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

Growing

  • Gardening skill: Beginner
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Pollinating others: Average
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Slightly large
  • Precocity: Precocious
  • Bearing regularity: Regular
  • Fruit bearing: Partial tip-bearer
  • Organic culture: Suitable
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile

Climate

  • Frost resistance of blossom: Some resistance
  • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
  • Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Good
  • Canker: Very resistant
  • Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Gladstone:

United Kingdom




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor

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