Large yellow fruit with red stripes and russet specks. Fine grained, crisp and juicy flesh.
USDA identification images for Pilot
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.
Offspring of this variety
Visitor reviews
- 23 Feb 2013 FUNEN, DenmarkI have grown an example of this excellent German very late keeping variety in my orchard the last couple of years. It is an early bearing heavy cropper - my two year spindel bush produced over five pounds in it's first season. The fruit is attractive red - deep yellow with a small amount of russeting. The flesh is very firm and quite juicy. The taste is sweet, aromatic with an almost cidery tang - very refreshing. However it is not as aromatic and full bodied as e.g. Ashmead's Kernel - but Pilot stores much longer. I pick them around mid October and store them in a cool air store. This way they are ready to eat from around Christmas but they taste sweeter and more aromatic from late January onwards. And they will last - at least until early May. The flesh is still firm and refreshing by early April!It is a fairly decease resistant variety (scab - mildew) and very easy to grow. I would definately recommend this variety! It is unfortunately not available from Danish or British nuseries as far as I know. However there are some excellent German nuseries that do ship internationally at a reasonable price - I got my tree that way. Happy growing
Tree register
United States
- Roger Miller in Madison Heights, VA
Germany
- Stefan Eberhardt in BACKNANG,
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Virginia seedling
- Introduced: Early 1800s
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1994-016
Where to buy fresh fruit
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