James Grieve apple

James Grieve apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for James Grieve

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

• 30 Aug 2017  Margot HeneryWALES, United Kingdom

  wonderful apple! Fell in love with it as a child, when our neighbour used to let me have one now & then, so insisted in planting it when first married & moved in here (1981) Struggle to keep the espalier shape my husband created but it's still going strong & am still loving those apples (Margot, Cardiff, margot.henery@gmail.com)
• 08 Nov 2015  Aurie MckayBERKSHIRE, United Kingdom

  Hi Stephen, I have just been helped to identify apple tree in my garden as James Grieve. It has probably been there since 1950's!! I have been away much of intervening time! It has never fruited very well until this year when it was smothered with apples; few last ones still coming down! I think good harvest may be due to my son's pruning two years ago; but not sure. Can you give me some tips for pruning J.G. please. Many thanks, Aurie
• 13 Jul 2015  Stephen HorsfallHERTS, United Kingdom

  Lovely apple, good as both an eater and a cooker. My tree is a full-size standard, and must be quite old, as it was already fully grown in 1978, when I moved in to this house. It used to bear biennially, but I seem to have cured it with judicious pruning. Very heavy crop last two years, and it looks like being heavy again this year (2015).
• 22 Jun 2014  GordonW EST SUSSEX, United Kingdom

  I have a James Grieve Apple 3 years old fruits lovely but when the apple is cut open the inside is bruised around the pip area and the apple does not taste very nice
• 26 Oct 2013  Steve IrishHAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom

  We 'rescued' a much maligned specimen from B&Q a few years ago. With a touch of TLC and the pollination by our bees we have had to support the branches such has been the crop each year. This year has been the heaviest crop of all with the average apple being some 11 cm in diameter. Harvesting has been late this year - 20 October - and the apples are sweet and flavoursome.
• 21 Sep 2013  LauraABINGDON, United Kingdom

  I have a James Grieve and an Egremont russet. They are good pollinating partners as they both flower quite early. The russet harvests later too, so avoids too much of a glut. However, what a bumper crop I have had from both this year!
• 08 Mar 2012  Philip RobinsonDERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom

  My second favourite after Fuji. They have a wonderful unique flavour, better than Fuji but I don't like the skins which are a bit waxy and thick. Incredible crisp and crunch, hard even. Its the flavour that draws them apart but they are very expensive - probably the most expensive in the UK.
• 25 Jul 2011  LindacapewellWEST MIDLANDS, United Kingdom

  I have a James Grieve apple tree in my small back garden.I live in the middle of the city and there are no pollinator trees around at all,but this lovely tree never fails to produce lots of big apples.One year we get a good crop,and every second year we get a bumper crop that I sometimes have to thin,I think it does really well considering there are no other apple trees about.
• 18 Mar 2011  DavidCHESTER, United States

  I have recently purchased a James Greive and was wondering where to plant it? I have a west-facing sheltered wall. The southern aspect gets slightly more hours of sunlight than the northern aspect. Does the tree need the maximum amount of sun, or will it tolerate a bit of shade to enable me to use the sunnier part of my wall for other plants?
• 30 Sep 2010  RosemaryPEMBROKESHIRE, United Kingdom

  I grow James Grieve in Pembrokeshire and it often gets some scab - but this year has been disease-free and the fruits have been excellent. It makes excellent tarte tatin and very tasty dried apple rings but does not keep.
• 26 Jul 2010  GordonWEST SUSSEX, United Kingdom

  I have a james grieve apple which in its first year of fruiting they looked perfect on the treebut when they where cut open they had gone brown from the core. any comments please.
• 14 Feb 2010  J D JamesCAERDYDD, United Kingdom

  I have found a very useful little site on pruning, if anyone's interested - http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2d_apple.asp
• 06 Nov 2009  J D JamesCAERDYDD, United Kingdom

  We had some lovely apples (about 20) from our first year harvest - I harvested throughout September and into the beginning of October - I was a bit worried about the wind blowing them off the tree!! I would be grateful for any advice on pruning, as the tree is still a bit "straggly" - should I take out the lower branches, for instance - about a foot or two from the ground? It has reached about six feet high now, but still thin and supported by bamboos.
• 05 Sep 2009  Nick MBACKBARROW, CUMBRIA, United Kingdom

  Took two varieties to Acorn Bank, near Temple Sowerby for identification. One was James Grieve. Small tree with southerly aspect. Intertwined with Egremont Russett. We get so many that we juice them at nearby communal pressing day. Lovely drink. Sharp initial taste.
• 30 Aug 2009  Chris HayesHAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom

  Do james grieve apples store well as we are moving house ?
• 01 Aug 2009  Brian WaughBOLTON, LANCS, United Kingdom

  Question! I Have A James Grieve Apple Tree, And Would Like To Know If I Will Need Another Apple Tree For Polination Kind Regards Brian
• 31 May 2009  Andrew LearPERTH, SCOTLAND, United Kingdom

  I have a james grieve trained as an espalier against my garage wall. It is 7 years old and gives me loads of beautiful apples every year. Very reliable. Can be kept into the new year if stored carefully in a cool place.The photo is very misleading, its not the typical one. There is an old one outside the shop at RBG Edinburgh.Lots of flowers thie year, i will need to thin the fruit. The best apple for Scotland!
• 14 Dec 2008  Robb Mc CrackenIDAHO, United States

  John, Can you tell me anything about James Grieve's resistance (or lack of resistance) to apple diseases? In particular, does it get scab? Not grown much in USA. I may plant test trees in my commercial orchard. Thanks. --Robb
• 24 Sep 2008  GordonSALSBURGH SHOTTS LANARKSHIRE, United Kingdom

  i have a james grieves at one end of my garden and a orange cox pippin at the outher end, will they complement each outher? The James Grieve has just started to bear fruit this year and so has the Cox although sparse, how do i know when to harvest and what can i do to get the best from my apples as my wife and i can,not eat them all.
• 13 Aug 2008  H SherwoodWORCESTER, United Kingdom

  I inheriated a james grieve tree with my house, and have yet to try the apples but i have a bumper load on it, so this website has been good for me to find out what it can be used for.
• 27 Jul 2008  M J GreenDEVON, United Kingdom

  My Grandfather planted a Grieve during the war, my greatest memories as a two year old was my grandmothe scraping the flesh with a spoon to give to me. I have just planted one last autumn and have wo to eat this year. I am getting very exited about re-living my childhood.
• 14 Apr 2008  B RudlinESSEX, ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  i have had conflicting comments as to whether James Grieve is self pollinating. Can someone please advise me. Answer: it is partially self-fertile.
• 05 Apr 2008  John CosshamYORK, United Kingdom

  This is my favourite apple. We have a good shaped tree in our garden. The apples are early and do not store very well. Wonderful flavour for eating straight from the tree. They also dry well and make a fantastic dried apple ring (I make these on my woodstove) and these store well in an airtight jar.... and really make my muesli lovely!
• 04 Mar 2008  Pj WooldridgeJERSEY CI, United States

  So.. J.Grieve needs a pollinator....what is the best? we have a couple of non descript apples close by and a Crab .. q2 how close need the pollinator be? all comments appreciated.
• 30 Jan 2008  MikeSUSSEX, United Kingdom

  Does James Grieve need a pollinator? OP: Yes - it is partially self-fertile so a separate pollinator is best.
• 27 Sep 2007  LucySCOTLAND, United Kingdom

  Thats my great grandads apple
• 14 Sep 2007  SteveHAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom

  We inherited two James Grieve when we moved into our house a year or so ago. We have enjoyed two bumper seasons and picked the apples early and late. This year we crushed and pressed about half of them and found that the earlies were slightly dry and produced an aromatic slightly acidic juice that is extremely light and refreshing. We hope the juice freezes well but cannot tell as yet. There is evidence of fire blight on the trees, which will be cut away hard this year after the last of the apples are used. Let's hope the trees are as resistant to disease as you indicate.
• 12 Sep 2007  MaryDEVON, United Kingdom

  We inherited this apple which we have just identified. Agree totally. Vey sharp when just ripe but quickly yellows and softens. Have stewed loads to freeze( yes they keep their shape) and eaten loads with cheese. going to try juicing next year.

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Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer James Grieve apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
  James Grieve apple trees

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow James Grieve:

United Kingdom

• England - midlands

  • Meynell Langley Trials Gardens, Derby
  • The Vyne, Basingstoke
  • Walsgrove Farm, Worcester

• England - north

  • Coulton Mill, York
  • Lockwood Hey Orchard, Saddleworth

• England - south-east

  • Kimpton Manor Apple Press, Andover
  • The Apple Farm, Freshwater
  • Holton Orchards, Halesworth

• England - south-west

  • Trevalon Organic Cooperative, Liskeard

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Riley Creek Farm, Lillooet
  • Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island

Australia

• Victoria

  • Heritage Fruits Society, Fairfield

References

• Apples of England (1948)
  Author: Taylor
• Fruit Expert
  Author: Hessayon