For the first time in over ten years an apple has been given the Award of Garden Merit. Not since 1998 has an apple received the award, and it’s gone to the very aptly named ‘Scrumptious’.

‘Scrumptious’ is an early apple, for eating straight from the tree in mid August and September. Introduced back in 1980, it has been grown and sampled at Wisley for many years – evidence of the rigorous assessment that apples undergo.

With its bright red skin it looks gorgeous and its crisp flesh has a lovely flavour - aromatic, sweet but not sugary, with a few hints of strawberry. It also has a number of other valuable features.

* It’s self fertile. So although it will produce the heaviest crop if pollinated by another variety it will also bring a very respectable crop if grown without. It is, however, a good pollinator of other apples.
* It’s relatively thin-skinned so great for kids.
* It fruits well on young trees
* The flowers are more resistant to frost than those of many varieties, so it’s good for cold areas.
* The fruit hangs on the tree, even after it’s passed its best.
* ‘Scrumptious’ is a relatively disease-free variety.

‘Scrumptious’ is a cross between two favourites, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Discovery’, raised by Hugh Ermen an apple enthusiast and apple breeder who raised a number of excellent eating and ornamental apples but who sadly passed away last autumn.

You can find out more about the ‘Scrumptious’ apple on the Orange Pippin apple and orchards website.