Apple Ben’s Red

A seedling of Devonshire Quarrenden bred in Cornwall in the 1830s, early dessert Apple Ben’s Red is very like its parent, but with a better flavour. Medium-sized, flattened round fruit, pale yellowish green with a heavy maroon flush and a few russet dots; the flesh is pink-tinged, crisp, juicy and sweet, with a taste reminiscent of strawberries.  Small, spreading tree, but a heavy cropper. Spur-bearer. Tendency to biennial bearing; thin the fruit to avoid this. A ‘pitcher’ – can be grown on its own roots from cuttings.

Site: Some shelter
Soil: Any reasonably well drained
Position: Crops best in full sun
Pick: Early September
Keep: September
Hardiness: Hardy
Pollination: Pollination Group 2 (pollinates with Groups 1, 2 and 3)
Uses: Eating apple