Worcester Pearmain is a classic English early-season apple, and remains popular as a garden variety. The apples are fairly small, and a pretty bright red where the sun catches them, whilst the blossom in spring is also a feature.
The flavor is good and sweet for an early variety, and in a good year you may notice the slight strawberry flavor for which this variety is renowned.
Like most early-season varieties, Worcester Pearmain does not keep. It is at its best when eaten straight from the tree, but you can store the apples in a fridge for up to a week.
Although always considered as a dessert apple variety, Worcester Pearmain is a good variety for stewed apple.
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Worcester Pearmain makes a good and reliable apple tree for the garden. Inspite of its susceptibility to the apple diseases scab and canker, it is generally a problem-free tree, and it is resistant to mildew. Pruning needs to be done carefully as Worcester Pearmain is a tip-bearer and the apples are borne on the end of the shoots.
Worcestershire, England. 1870s. According to the Victorian writer Hogg, Worcester Pearmain is a seedling of Devonshire Quarrenden.