TWO new apple cultivars have been discovered in the borough by local gardeners.
Thanks to allotment tenants Roger and Sue Gook, two new varieties of the fruit can be added to the 2,500 already identified in the UK.
Curious about the two apple trees on their plot, the couple invited experts to test their plants’ DNA.
“The apples have always stored well, but we didn’t suspect that they would be particularly unusual,” says Roger.
“Sue is a member of Wisley, and at their Autumn fair in 2021 there was an opportunity to take apples to be identified by the experts, so we took some along.”
But specialists at the Royal Horticultural Society of Gardeners at Wisley didn’t recognise the specimens sue and Roger showed them.
Instead, they advised the couple to have the plant DNA tested to find out more, so Sue and Roger contacted East Malling Agricultural And Horticultural Research Institute.
“We sent a sample cutting to them in May, ” says Roger: “and six months later they told us we have two completely new varieties of apple tree.
“I’m not the best of gardeners, but the trees have always fascinated me.
“The quality and taste of the fruit is average, but they find an honourable place in my homemade chutney.”
Sue and Roger have also made apple sauce and apple jelly with fruit from their trees.
“They’re very good fruiters,” says Roger.
The trees are growing in an area thought to have been the site of an extensive orchard until around 1935.
Cuttings have been taken from the varieties, six from one tree and three from another.
“Paul Smith, allotments officer at Wokingham Town Council has been very helpful,” continues Roger.
“The new trees will be planted out next spring, and Paul will make sure they’re sited in the right places.
“I might put one in my garden, too.
“It’s been fun, an interesting journey, and not something we expected to happen.”
Sue and Roger have been invited to name their two new cultivars, which currently have only identification numbers.
A cultivar, or cultivated variety, is a type within a species, that has been created by plant breeding rather than by natural means.
Most supermarkets stock only a limited variety of fruit, but hundreds of different apple cultivars grow in the UK.
Historic varieties include: Blenheim Orange (1740), Beauty of Hants (1850), Flower of Kent (1629) and Jonathan (1864).
It has been suggested that Roger and Sue’s apples might be suitable for making cider.
“I like apple trees, they’re fabulous in spring,” says Roger.
“And yes, cider would work very well.”
