Sweet Rambo
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Sweet Rambo
Origin/History
From Berks County, Pennsylvania. Downing (1900) notes the origin as "supposed Pennsylvania," while Elliott (1865) specifies Berks Co., Pa. more precisely.
Tree
Stout, upright, and vigorous; not an early bearer. (Downing.)
Not described in source. (Elliott.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium; roundish oblate.
Stem: Slender.
Cavity: Deep, surrounded by russet.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Open. Elliott (1865) specifies the basin as deep and open; Downing (1900) describes it simply as an open basin without noting depth.
Skin: Yellow, mostly shaded with red, and thickly covered with large gray dots. Downing notes the dots are a little elevated above the surface.
Flesh/Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as whitish, juicy, and of a pleasant sweet flavor. Elliott describes it as yellowish, rich, and sugary. Quality rated "Good to very good" by Downing; "very good" by Elliott.
Core/Seeds: Core small. Downing adds that it is close.
Season
Downing gives October to December. Elliott gives November to January.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Rambo.
Origin, supposed Pennsylvania. Tree stout, upright, vigorous, not an early bearer.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, yellow, mostly shaded with red, and thickly covered with large gray dots, a little elevated above the surface. Stalk slender, inserted in a deep cavity, surrounded by russet. Calyx closed, set in an open basin. Flesh whitish, juicy, pleasant sweet. Core small and close. Good to very good. October to December.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sweet Rambo.
From Berks Co., Pa. Fruit, medium, roundish oblate ; yellow with shades of red, large gray dots ; stem, slender ; cavity, deep, russeted ; calyx, closed ; basin, deep, open ; core, small ; flesh, yellowish, rich, sugary ; "very good." November, January.