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Worcester Pearmain

  • Picking season: Early
  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

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.

Worcester Pearmain apple trees for sale

  • 11-year maiden bare-root tree 24.45€
    M26 rootstock
    Medium size (2.5m-3m after 10 years)
  • 21-year maiden bare-root tree 24.45€
    MM106 rootstock
    Large size (3m-4m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Deliveries resume December 2020

How to grow

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.

History

Worcestershire, England. 1870s. According to the Victorian writer Hogg, Worcester Pearmain is a seedling of Devonshire Quarrenden.

Worcester Pearmain characteristics

  • Picking seasonEarly
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping1 week
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Useful forEating fresh
  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • PloidyDiploid
  • VigourAverage vigour
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • CankerSome susceptibility
  • Climate typeTemperate climates
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Frost resistance of blossomGood resistance
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Fruit colourRed
  • AwardsRHS Award of Garden Merit