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Merton Russet apple

Small. Golden russet colored. Flesh very crisp, deep yellow, and juicy. Complex sweet/spicy flavor.

USDA identification images for Merton Russet

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


    Visitor reviews

    • 10 Nov 2013  New Zealand
      spring 2013. my apple grove is not in a place that would be recommended. dry bony soil. dry summers. my merton russet is growing strongly and is very healthy. i have watered the tree from time to time in the summer. i am hoping for a few apples this year. it has had horse poose and seaweed. if i carry on with the horse poose i should sprinkle with lime in future. i get serious frosts ans some snow in the winter.
    • 07 Nov 2011  New Zealand
      i grafted a merton russet onto a m793 rootstock last year and it seems to be vigorous enough. From a 10cm scion in july 2010, it is a bit over a metre now(spring). It took a while to get going during spring/summer 2010 though. i have not had any trouble with disease yet, maybe a bit early.
    • 15 Jul 2011  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom
      I tried growing this variety for a while (on the strong M25 roots, for those who are curious), but I had to remove the struggling tree on account of it being too susceptible to powdery mildew without sprays (which was not something that I was prepared to do). It showed some resistance to canker and scab - and was quite a strong grower until mildew crippled it - so it might tolerate a higher-rainfall climate and better soil where powdery mildew is less troublesome. Not recommended - and that's probably why it is hard to find this variety. There are plenty of better varieties with equal or superior fruit quality and with better disease resistance for home growers.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    New Zealand

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2010 season

    • 5th May  2010  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • 25th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2013 season

    • 3rd week April  2013  - tree owned by Katrina in Nelson, New Zealand

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Sturmer Pippin x Cox's Orange Pippin
    • Originates from: London, England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1921
    • Developed by: M.B. Crane, John Innes Institute
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1935-002

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1900 - 1949

    Using

    • Picking season: Late

    Growing

    • Flowering group: 2

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Merton Russet:

    United Kingdom




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