Merton Prolific is one of the early results of research at the John Innes Institute, based in Merton, South London. It is based on the premise of crossing an excellent dessert apple - Cox's Orange Pippin - with a tried and tested cooker - Northern Greening. The result is not entirely successful, as the Northern Greening tends to dominate the mix - but this does mean that Merton Prolific is as its name suggests, a good cropper and it also keeps very well. The flavour can best be described as strong apple-like - which is no bad thing.
USDA identification images for Merton Prolific
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
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
- Northern Greening (parent)
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Tree register
We don't have any registered trees for this variety yet. If you have a Merton Prolific tree you can register it here.
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Northern Greening and Cox's Orange Pippin
- Originates from: London, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1914
- Developed by: Morley Benjamin Crane, John Innes Institute, Merton
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1973-139
Identification
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
- Awards: RHS AM
Using
- Picking season: Late
- Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style (apples): Sharper
- Cropping: Heavy
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Food uses: Juice
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 3
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Average vigour
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
Where to buy fresh fruit
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.