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Braddick's Nonpareil apple

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Braddick's Nonpareil is a relatively unknown but remarkably good English dessert apple.  Rated by Hogg in his late 19th century 'The Fruit Manual' as "excellent", it is nevertheless quite a shock to anyone brought up on modern sweet dessert apples.  Braddick's Nonpareil hits you with an intense dense sharpness which can be eye-watering when just picked, although it sweetens in storage (and this is a good variety to store for the winter).

Crucially however, this sharpness is not simply acidic sourness (as you find in a cooking apple or a Granny Smith), but has a real depth and richness to it which is extremely satisfying.  After a few mouthfuls, you start to realise that actually there is a background of sweetness in Braddick's Nonpareil that fills out the sharp tanginess into something that few other sharp-flavoured apples can attain.

The variety was raised by Mr John Braddick in England at the very start of the 19th century, and nothing is known of its origins.  Hogg recommends it for espalier training and reports that it crops reliably.

USDA identification images for Braddick's Nonpareil

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.

    See also

    • Claygate Pearmain - Braddick's Nonpareil and Claygate Pearmain were both discovered by John Braddick.

    Visitor reviews

    • 03 Mar 2019  DORSET, United Kingdom
      My favourite apple by a long way, but then I like full flavoured apples with both sweetness and sharpness that are both crisp and juicy. If that applies to you then track one down, you won't be disappointed!
    • 08 Sep 2009  BEDFORDSHIRE UK, United Kingdom
      Bedfordshire Historical Record Society Volume XL (ie 40) Some Bedfordshire Diaries John Salusbury of Leighton Buzzard 1757-1759 p. 55 has the entry in John Salusbury the Leighton Buzzard Justice of the Peace's diary: 3rd November 1757: “Gathered my Nonpareils today, which are very much specked & bad”. Does this early reference help?
    • 03 Jul 2009  BECCLES, SUFFOLK, United Kingdom
      On my allotment in Norwich I had an apple tree that was listed as a Braddick's nonpareil and it fits your description. I would also add that it was very late to flower and equally late to harvest and the fruit stored very well. I managed to propagate 2 more trees by grafting and have given one to a friend and have planted the other on my new allotment in Beccles. I felt that it was a superb tree to preserve.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    Switzerland

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2013 season

    • 18th May  2013  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom

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


    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Unknown
    • Originates from: England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1818
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1967-054

    Identification

    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking period: mid-October
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Triploid
    • Bearing regularity: Regular

    Climate

    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

    Other qualities

    • Canker: Some resistance
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
    • Powdery mildew: Some resistance

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Braddick's Nonpareil:

    United States




    References

    • Apples of England (1948)
      Author: Taylor

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