62. Farleigh - Damson
Season : Quite late - Typically cropping in September.
Pollination : Self Fertile. Group D
Exceptionally hardy and full flavoured
Prunus insititia 'Farleigh'
Farleigh produces small sized damsons but the sheer volume, regularly produced, more than makes up for their size. The damsons are almost black in colour when ripe, with a pronounced bloom. The damsons are not quite sweet enough to eat raw but they are not that far off. They make excellent pies, jams and top quality wines.
The trees are exceptionally hardy and were often used as windbreaks for more tender fruit trees in commercial orchards. They are also less susceptible to frost damage than many other cultivars
The parents are not known, this was a chance seedling found in Farleigh, Kent. It was first introduced formally in 1820.