King's Acre Pippin

Origin/History

King's Acre Pippin was introduced by King's Acre Nursery in 1899, and is reputed to be a cross of Stunner Pippin and Ribston. It has been described as quite one of the best late dessert sorts. It is said by some to be a variety some 100 years old, which would place its origin well before its commercial introduction.

Tree

Growth is moderate; fertility is moderate. Leaf medium, rich green, nearly flat, markedly curved serrate.

Fruit

Size and Form

Sources conflict on size: Bunyard (1920) calls it medium, measuring 2¼ inches by 2 inches, round-conical and irregular in outline; Veitch (1911) describes it as large.

Stem

Stem rather long, set in a moderately deep cavity that is russeted.

Cavity

Stem cavity moderately deep, russeted.

Calyx

Eye closed, set in a shallow basin that is surrounded by five prominent ribs.

Basin

Shallow, encircled by five prominent ribs.

Skin

Sources conflict on color: Bunyard describes the ground color as yellow with a brown-red flush, netted with russet; Veitch describes it as clear golden-yellow, with no mention of flush or russet netting.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh pale yellow, crisp, juicy, and highly aromatic, with rich flavor. The fruit is hard when quite ripe, becoming mellow and improving with keeping.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Dessert use through March.

Uses

Dessert.

Storage

The fruit is hard at full ripeness and mellows and improves in keeping, making it a good late-season keeper.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.