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Lane's Prince Albert apple

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Lane's Prince Albert

Lane's Prince Albert is one of the definitive English cooking apples.  It was discovered by Thomas Squire of Berkhamsted in the 1840s, and named by him after Prince Albert.  It was subsequently taken on by local nurseryman John Lane and it rapidly became a very popular garden apple variety - and remains so in England and elsewhere to this day.

It possesses the typical qualities of an English "cooker" - a juicy acidic flavour and it keeps very well.  The apples are a good size, but not as large as many other English culinary varieties.  It is an easy tree to grow in the garden, with generally good disease resistance and tolerating a wide range of situations.  The Victorian author Hogg rated it as "a marvellous bearer, and rarely fails to produce a crop" - the apples bruise easily but this is unlikely to be an issue for the domestic user.

The parentage is not confirmed but is thought to include Dumelow's Seedling, which it resembles visually and in keeping qualities.

Lane's Prince Albert apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Lane's Prince Albert
  • Lane's Prince Albert
  • Lane's Prince Albert

USDA identification images for Lane's Prince Albert

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

    • Dumelow's Seedling (parent) - Dumelow's Seedling is the probable parent of Lane's Prince Albert.

    Offspring of this variety


    Visitor reviews

    • 22 Oct 2020  HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
      I am lucky to have a really old one growing in my garden on the original site of Lanes Nurseries
    • 20 Oct 2020  HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
      I am lucky to have a really old one growing in my garden on the original site of Lanes Nurseries
    • 18 Aug 2015  NORTH YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
      We inherited a Lanes Prince Albert when we came here 5 years ago and find it excellent. Heavy cropper, good keeper, delicious flavour.
    • 13 Jan 2014  HERTS, United Kingdom
      I've just ordered a Lane's Prince Albert for my allotment. I'm looking forward to growing it in its home town.
    • 21 Sep 2013  CAMBS, United Kingdom
      My LPA is a dainty, spreading tree producing huge crops of green cookers. It has an untamed quality about it making it hard for me to decide where to prune as it is so pretty. The fruit is excellent in crumbles and pies. I live in Norfolk, although the postcode town is in Cambs. Janet Simpson, St John's Fen End, Wisbech, Cambs. amboseliblackdrove@hotmail.co.uk
    • 25 Jun 2011  NORTHUMBERLAND, United Kingdom
      I have a small Lane's Prince Albert in my garden.

    Tree register

    United Kingdom

    France

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 26th April  2022  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom
    • 24th April  2022  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • 24th April  2022  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • 24th April  2022  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • 23rd April  2022  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 30th April  2017  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom
    • 30th April  2017  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 25th May  2016  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom
    • 11th May  2016  - tree owned by Susan in Fetcham, United Kingdom
    • May  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • May  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • May  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 9th May  2015  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom
    • May  2015  - tree owned by Isabel in Harrogate, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 12th May  2014  - tree owned by Mark in Leyburn, United Kingdom
    • April  2014  - tree owned by Amanda in Cahors, France

    2013 season

    • 27th May  2013  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 3rd May  2012  - tree owned by Lenore in Beverley, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • April  2010  - tree owned by Caroline in Dundee, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2016 season

    • 2nd week October  2016  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom
    • October  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • October  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom
    • October  2016  - tree owned by Graham in Southampton, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 2nd week October  2015  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom
    • 1st week September  2015  - tree owned by Roy in Bridgwater, United Kingdom
    • September  2015  - tree owned by Isabel in Harrogate, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 2nd week October  2014  - tree owned by Bill in , United Kingdom
    • 2nd week September  2014  - tree owned by Janet in Wisbech, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • October  2013  - tree owned by John in Musselburgh, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 1st week October  2012  - tree owned by Lenore in Beverley, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 3rd week September  2011  - tree owned by Carl in Bedford, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • October  2010  - tree owned by Rebecca in Brackley, United Kingdom
    • October  2010  - tree owned by Caroline in Dundee, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • October  2009  - tree owned by Rebecca in Brackley, United Kingdom
    • 3rd week September  2009  - tree owned by Chris in South Wales, United Kingdom
    • 3rd week September  2009  - tree owned by Chris in South Wales, United Kingdom

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Originates from: Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1850s
    • Developed by: Messr. H. Lane & Son
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1975-308
    • Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.

    Identification

    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
    • Flower colour: Pink - light
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Rarely grown
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
    • Cooking result: Puree
    • Discoloration of fruit: Very oxidising (browns quickly)
    • Cropping: Good
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Food uses: Juice
    • Food uses: Traditional cooker
    • Picking period: mid-October
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Good
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Suitable
    • Attractive features: Attractive flowers
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

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

    Other qualities

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

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Lane's Prince Albert apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Lane's Prince Albert:

    United Kingdom




    References

    • Fruit Expert
      Author: Hessayon

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