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.
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
- Bountiful - Lane's Prince Albert is possibly a parent of Bountiful.
- Morley's Seedling
Visitor reviews
- 22 Oct 2020 HERTFORDSHIRE, United KingdomI am lucky to have a really old one growing in my garden on the original site of Lanes Nurseries
- 20 Oct 2020 HERTFORDSHIRE, United KingdomI 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 KingdomWe 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 KingdomI'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 KingdomMy 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 KingdomI have a small Lane's Prince Albert in my garden.
Tree register
United Kingdom
- Alison Quinsey in Beccles, SUFFOLK
- Angela Bogle in Bakewell, DERBYSHIRE
- Bill Barker And Sharon Cherry in LEICESTERSHIRE
- Carl Stoner in Bedford, BEDFORDSHIRE
- Caroline in Dundee, SCOTLAND
- Chris Vines in South Wales,
- Cindy Reynolds in Aldershot, HAMPSHIRE
- Claire Doble in Leeds,
- Clive Rowlands in Northampton, NORTHANTS
- Connor in Southampton,
- David Scholes in Saddleworth,
- Dr Dennis Bancroft in Near Rugby, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
- Fred Bloggs in Whitstable, KENT
- Graham Hinchliffe in Eastbourne, EAST SUSSEX
- Graham Tibble in Southampton, HAMPSHIRE
- Graham Tibble in Southampton, HAMPSHIRE
- Graham Tibble in Southampton, HAMPSHIRE
- Graham Tibble in Southampton, HAMPSHIRE
- Graham Tibble in Southampton, HAMPSHIRE
- Guy in
- Heidi Saxby in Yorks, NORTH YORKS
- Hugh Morton in Kingsbridge,
- Hugh Morton in Kingsbridge,
- Isabel Reed in Harrogate, NORTH YORKSHIRE
- Jane Durney in Berkhamsted, HERTS
- Janet Simpson in Wisbech, CAMBS
- Janet Simpson in Wisbech, CAMBS
- Jean Lippett in Martock, SOMERSET
- John Cory in Musselburgh, SCOTLAND
- John Reade in Wheaton Aston, STAFFORDSHIRE
- Jon Yates in Aston, Stevenage, HERTFORDSHIRE
- Kate Bagenal-Lowe in Wooler, NORTHUMBERLAND
- Kevinincornwall in Liskeard, UNITED KINGDOM
- Lenore Greensides in Beverley, EAST YORKS
- Mandy Russell in Bedford, BEDS
- Margaret Brooker in Ellerker, EAST YORKSHIRE
- Mark Sheard in Leyburn, NORTH YORKS
- Martin Timms in Baldock, HERTFORDSHIRE
- Mike in Rottingdean,
- Paul in Barnet, HERTFORDSHIRE
- Rebecca Hughes in Brackley, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
- Roy Cox in Bridgwater, SOMERSET
- Steve Webster in Truro, CORNWALL
- Susan Tilley in Fetcham, SURREY
France
- Amanda Lawrence in Cahors, LOT
- Paul Kendall in Poupas, TARN-ET-GARONNE
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
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:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
Lane's Prince Albert apple trees - Keepers Nursery
United Kingdom More >>
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Lane's Prince Albert:
United Kingdom
England - north
- Lockwood Hey Orchard, Saddleworth
References
- Fruit Expert
Author: Hessayon