Saturn apple

Saturn apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Saturn

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.

Visitor reviews

• 05 Oct 2023 

  I have just eaten one of these which I picked at the Brogdale Orchard Day last weekend. It was a very large example and on point possibly a tiny bit over as to ripeness. I agree that the sweetness had a sharpness to it and the apple had a nice bite. There were definitely some perfumey hints to the flavour. Very nice and juicy and pleasantly surprised as my preference is late maturing Cox/Blenheim Orange/Russet types rather than Golden Delicious or Jonathan. In summary a bit like a supercharged Gala possibly similar to a good example of the somewhat variable Ariane,
• 25 Oct 2020  SHROPSHIRE, United Kingdom

  Bought an initial 5 on 106 rootstock. Taste is boring,bland but juicy and sweet. I didn't like it but my customers love it, so I top worked 35 red Falstaff with it...and still haven't got enough. Will probably graft/ top work another 25 with it. Although a beautiful looking apple it can suffer with canker, no matter what the catalogues say
• 14 Oct 2012  SUFFOLK, United Kingdom

  I planted a cordon apple Saturn two years ago. Last year it produce 15 good sized fruit. This year the yield was at least 30. The tree is only 6ft tall and was laden with fruit. (I am training it over an arch into my veg garden.) The fruit were all perfect and taste fantastic - crisp, sweet but not too sweet and beautiful to look at. A brilliant and productive variety - I shall plant more. 5/5
• 09 Aug 2011  United Kingdom

  just bought a saturn tastes sharp with a hint of sweetness overall very pleased with its flavour
• 10 Oct 2009 

  In the first cropping season on M9 and B9 rootstocks (18 months after planting) Saturn produced an average 1.5kg of fruit per tree at spacing 1.2m x 3m. The fruit, which had been thinned, was large, shiny, oval-round, with a very attractive red flush on the pale background, making a very distinctive product. The flavour was sweet, and the apple gained instant acceptance in the Kabul fruit market. Other new varieties not accepted on taste included Red Devil & Red Falstaff. Treco Gala was preferred over Royal Gala, due to more intense colour. The origin of the apples is important for taste, and this is noticed by consumers. Further information will be collected on a full range of fruit varieties and species and reported on the website
• 05 Nov 2008  DERBY DERBYSHIRE ENGLAND, United Kingdom

  i have purchased one of these trees having read a little about it i think it will be ideal for my small garden i want desease resistance above all else
• 25 Sep 2008  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom

  We have two Saturn - one bush and one cordon. We bought them because we like the idea of "organic" growing and try to avoid spraying. The claims of strong disease resistance and a number of organic references to this apple were very appealing. Both of our Saturn are only a few years old, but this year - admittedly a notoriously wet year - their resistance to scab appears to have failed, with considerable numbers of tatty leaves, brown patches and blistering typical of scab. The presumed scab damage to Saturn was far worse than any of the "old-fashioned" varietes that I grow. In view of their scab-resistance failing when it was most needed, I am considering removing or re-grafting my Saturns, although their good resistance to mildew (which is usually more troubling than scab for me) may grant them a reprieve. Next year, I may take some of mine to an "apple day", to confirm that what I have is Saturn - and to confirm that I haven't been supplied with some other variety by accident. The fruits look attractive on the tree - being mostly reddish in colour - just like the picture shown above. The flesh is medium-to-slightly soft (easy-biting but not mushy might be a better term). They are fairly sweet and juicy, with some apple flavour. Had it not been for the scab problems that they should have largely resisted (assuming that they really were Saturn), they would have made very "easy-eating" apples that most people would find palatable. Regards, Nigel

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