Easy Eaters

Browse through any nursery catalogue or website and there will be a bewildering choice of eating apples on offer. Nurseryman and fruit frower David Patch reveals his all-time favourites

- David Patch

There are more than 5000 named varieties of apple recorded in the UK,and although the vast majority are not available commercially to buy, there is no shortage of different choices for the gardener. If you are a seasoned fruit grower it can be straightforward to pick and choose – but for the novice, it can be utterly bewildering. Florid descriptions can sometimes be slightly misleading, and it is easy to get tempted by a variety with a rich and unusual history, when it actually might be susceptible to disease and a poor cropper. This month we will look at the easiest and most straightforward dessert varieties to grow – if you are just starting out with growing apples these are the ones which should be on your short list.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD EATER

Before we get on to the actual varieties, I should explain the criteria I used to compile the list. First and foremost was flavour – after all, the easiest apples of the lot are the ones wrapped in cellophane on the supermarket aisle. If we are taking the time and trouble to grow our own fruit, we want them to taste at least as good as the ones we can buy. All the varieties on this list are a cut above the insipid fruit you find in the shops, which has often been cold stored for several months or picked underripe and flown from the other side of the world. I’ve tried to include a wide range of flavours and textures, so there should be something which appeals.