5. Foxwhelp - Cider Apple

The 'Foxwhelp' is a very old cider apple cultivar, originating in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire borders and known from the 1600s for creating a very fine crisp, dry cider.

It has small to medium sized fruits with an  an uneven, ridged shape. The skin is a deep crimson skin with yellow stripes.

The flesh is yellow with a red tinge and is very acidic.

The flavour is classed as a "bittersharp" cider apple, containing high levels of tannin and malic acid.

Season:  flowering in May and ripening in September.

Pollination:

Foxwhelp is self sterile and will be pollinated by other May-flowering apple trees.

Rootstock:Our tree is grafted onto mid-sized MM106 rootstock giving a medium sized tree.

Notes:

Foxwhelp is particularly known for its tendency to produce sports (mutations), on single branches. These mutations were a source of many of the later so called  'improved' varieties of Foxwhelp, such as 'Black Foxwhelp', 'Red Foxwhelp', and possibly 'Broxwood Foxwhelp'.

Foxwhelp are susceptible to the disease apple scab and they will only grow in the West, where conditions suit them.

It needs a good supply of water ( no problem there then!!)

Malus domestica 'Foxwhelp'