Tewksbury Winter Blush
Apple
Tewksbury Winter Blush
Origin/History
This variety originated in the township of Tewksbury, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It was first described by Coxe (1817), who introduced it to pomological literature. Warder (1867) notes it in connection with the Fink apple, which resembles it closely, and observes that like the Fink, the chief excellence of the Tewksbury Winter Blush consists in its superior keeping qualities. Downing records the alternate name Tewkesbury Blush.
Tree
The tree is vigorous (Coxe, Warder, Downing), upright (Warder), straight (Coxe, Downing), and well formed (Coxe). Growth is rapid (Downing). The tree is productive and holds the apples well on the branch late into autumn (Warder, Coxe, Downing). Young shoots are grayish reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Small (all sources agree).
Form: Sources conflict on form. Coxe describes the fruit as round; Warder describes it as regular and flat; Downing describes it as rather flat.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth (all sources agree). Ground color yellow, with a red cheek (Coxe, Downing); Warder describes the surface as smooth, yellow, blushed. Coxe characterizes the cheek as bright red.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow (all sources). Warder notes the texture as breaking. Coxe describes the flesh as tolerably juicy and well flavored, with a considerable degree of sprightliness. Downing states the flesh has more juice and flavor than any other long-keeping variety, and characterizes the flavor as mild, pleasant subacid. Warder describes it as juicy and well flavored. All sources agree the flesh retains its quality over an exceptionally long keeping period.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The fruit hangs late in the autumn (Coxe, Downing). Downing gives the eating season as January to July. Coxe reports having eaten them in good condition in August of the second year — preserved without particular care, perfectly plump and sound — a notable testament to the variety's longevity in storage.
Uses
Primarily valued as a long-keeping apple. Coxe notes it possesses more flavor and juiciness than is usually found in keeping apples, making it exceptional among varieties of its class. Warder echoes this, stating the chief excellence of the variety is its superior keeping quality.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1894–1900) from Alabama
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 94. TEWKSBURY WINTER BLUSH.
This apple was brought from the township of Tewksbury in Hunterdon county, New-Jersey—it is a very handsome fair fruit, with more flavour and juiciness than is to be usually found in keeping apples; I have eaten them in good condition in August of the second year, preserved without particular care, perfectly plump and sound. The size is small; the form round; the skin smooth: the colour yellow, with a bright red cheek—the flesh yellow, tolerably juicy, and well flavoured, with a considerable degree of sprightliness: the tree is of vigorous growth, straight, and well formed—the fruit hangs late in the autumn.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Tewksbury Winter Blush.
This long-keeping variety was described by Coxe as having its origin in New Jersey. It has already been named in connection with the Fink, which resembles it very closely, and, like it, the chief excellence of this variety consists in its superior keeping qualities.
The tree is vigorous, upright, productive, and holds the apples well.
Fruit small, regular, flat; Surface smooth, yellow, blushed; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy, well flavored, and retains its characters for a long time.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tewkesbury Winter Blush. Tewkesbury Blush. Coxe says this Apple was brought from Tewkesbury, Hunterdon Co., N.J. It is a handsome, fair fruit, with more flavor and juiciness than is usual in long-keeping apples. They may be kept till August, without particular care, quite plump and sound. The tree grows rapidly and straight, and the fruit hangs till late in the autumn. Young shoots grayish reddish brown. The size is small, rather flat. The skin smooth, yellow, with a red cheek. Flesh yellow, with more juice and flavor than any other long-keeping variety. Mild, pleasant subacid. January to July.