Gravenstein

An old dual purpose apple with a distinctive savoury flavour popular in Scandanavia and Northern Europe.

Origin: Denmark, 1600

Pollination: Gravenstein is a self-sterile triploid and would require a pollinator to produce a crop. Pollination partners

We are now closed for the season. Ordering for winter 2024/25 will be enabled from Wednesday 1st May 2024.

History and description of Gravenstein

An old European variety which according to some sources arose in the 1600’s in the garden of Duke Augustenberg, Castle Graefenstein, Schleswig-Holstein. Other sources trace its origins to an apple called Ville Blanc imported to Northern Europe from Italy or South Tyrol. Introduced in England in the 1820’s and sent from London Horticultural Society to Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. Introduced to California by Russian settlers by the 1820’s. Still grown in Canada and California and continues to be valued in Northern Europe, where it is Norway’s most popular apple.

A medium/large sized apple. Oblong shape. Irregular, flat-sided, with small well-rounded ribs. Greenish yellow background colour becoming yellow. Light orange red flush with short, broad, broken scarlet stripes. Cream coloured flesh, somewhat coarse-textured, juicy. Crisp, distinctive savoury flavour. A dual purpose apple which keeps its shape when cooked.

A very hardy, vigorous tree. Good cropper. Slow to bear. Fruit drops.

Characteristics of Gravenstein apple trees

Use	Dual Cul & Des
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Savoury
Fruit size	Large
Picking time	Early Sep
Season of use	Sep-Oct
Tree vigour	Vigorous
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Good
Disease resistance	Scab - Susceptible Mildew - Susceptible Canker - Susceptible
Suitable for	Hardy
Special features	Attractive Blossom Good for Cider Good for Juice
Pollination date	3
Pollination group	A
Self-fertility	Self-sterile triploid
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Progeny	James Lawson