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

George Cave apple

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George Cave is an early English apple, ripening in early/mid August.  It has a pleasing appearance, and like many summer apples can vary in colour from its basic green/yellow colour to all-over red depending on where the apple is exposed to the sun.

The flavour is typical of early English apples, lacking any of the aromatic qualities found in later season varieties, and basically just tasting of "apple".  The main distinguishing feature of the flavour is that it is somewhat stronger and more intense than other early season varieties.  The flesh has some crispness straight from the tree and is moderately juicy, but softens within a few hours of picking, and becomes dry and mealy within a few days - this is an apple that is at its best on the day of picking.

George Cave is not widely-grown, but it retains a following and many fruit tree nurseries list it in their catalogues, and the apples are sometimes available from small farms and orchards.

George Cave identification images

ARS GRIN
©Copyright ARS GRIN

USDA identification images for George Cave

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.

    Visitor reviews

    • 24 Aug 2022 
      Tasting notes are spot on. A lovely early apple, full of flavour and yes, soft after picking. My tasters came from Helmsley Walled Garden.
    • 01 Aug 2022 
      This is a fantastic good all rounder as it has a good zing that can also make a lovely cooking apple. The apple is small to medium in size and kids love them!!
    • 11 Oct 2015  HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
      The first apple of the season in my garden. Most years I start using them before the end of July, and some years the first two or three have fallen by then. Sharp but pleasant. I agree that they don't keep well, but they are acceptable until September or early October, by which time other varieties are available in my garden. Best to thin the young fruit for fewer but larger apples.
    • 30 Aug 2015  DORSET, United Kingdom
      My tree produces masses of small apples in August every year. Reasonably pleasant to eat fully ripe straight from the tree but otherwise not worth eating. I sometimes use for chutney.
    • 24 Sep 2013  LONDON, United Kingdom
      does not store well , impractical to eat on day of picking as have hundreds of them!! They drop from the tree when ripe so difficult to havest as pick one , and a shower of them falls off!

    Tree register

    United Kingdom

    Ireland

    Switzerland

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2018 season

    • 3rd May  2018  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 25th April  2017  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 9th May  2016  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 3rd May  2015  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • May  2015  - tree owned by Paul in Llandyfriog, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 22nd April  2014  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 19th May  2013  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • May  2013  - tree owned by Dan in Killarney, Ireland

    2010 season

    • 26th April  2010  - tree owned by Stuart in Newbury, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2020 season

    • 4th week July  2020  - tree owned by d in Nottingham, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 1st week August  2017  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 3rd week August  2016  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 3rd week August  2015  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week August  2015  - tree owned by Paul in Llandyfriog, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 2nd week August  2014  - tree owned by Steve in Glastonbury, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week August  2014  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 2nd week September  2013  - tree owned by Bill in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week August  2013  - tree owned by Dan in Killarney, Ireland

    2012 season

    • 2nd week August  2012  - tree owned by Lyn in Llandovery, United Kingdom
    • 1st week August  2012  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland

    2011 season

    • 4th week July  2011  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland

    2010 season

    • 1st week August  2010  - tree owned by Helmut in Neukirch, Switzerland

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica
    • Introduced: 1923
    • Developed by: Mr George Cave

    Using

    • Picking season: Very early
    • Cropping: Good
    • Keeping (of fruit): Does not keep
    • Flavor style (apples): Sharper
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Discoloration of fruit: Oxidising

    Growing

    • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Organic culture: Suitable

    Climate

    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Fruit colour: Orange / Red

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow George Cave:

    United Kingdom




    References

    • Fruit Expert
      Author: Hessayon

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