Cox äpple
Steven Desmond takes a look at the various members of the Cox apple family, and suggests some to look out for. A visit to a well-organised apple store in November is always a wonderful experience. The early eaters that, although lovely, will not keep, are a distant memory. We now see before us those sterling kinds that ripen on the tree in October, but whose flavour and texture will improve with proper storage — cool, dark, frost-free — and will keep in good order until at least the following March.
Cox's Orange Pippin apple
Every grower knows that Cox is a difficult fruit to bring to a high standard, but it remains, after nearly years, the one the connoisseur wants to eat. It is at its best from store in November and December. Its thin skin and the foaming texture of its richly sweet flesh are always welcome.
Cox lived at Colnbrook, now romantically sandwiched between Slough and Heathrow Airport, but then a quiet corner of rural Buckinghamshire. When I encounter the eating quality of an unfamiliar apple and come to do a bit of superficial homework, there is Cox nearby on the family tree, quietly nodding to me in an unobtrusive way. Recommended videos for you.
This is by no means to suggest that these relatives are all more or less the same. Not a bit of it. They are as varied as the members of any extended family. One of the best Cox relations is Charles Ross, never seen in shops because, despite its excellent qualities, it will not keep. It is, however, very easy to grow, making it ideal for the private garden. Each fruit is amazingly large, so it looks rather like a Cox the size of a cooking apple.
There is something in this, as it is as good eaten straight off the tree as it is baked in a pie. One of the less well-known apples of Cox descent is Rubinette, the only commercial deficiency of which is that it is rather small. It does turn up, however, so look out for it. Its glossy skin, with bright pink overlying green, is of the same crisp, non-greasy thinness as its famous parent and the flesh is unfailingly crunchy, more so than Cox, with a rich and lasting sweetness all the better for being only snack size.
Cherry Cox Apple Variety and a Few Others, Tasting and Review
To think that it was bred in Switzerland! It is easily recognisable, with the orange-striped colouring of Cox, but over a rather angular shape. It is a little too unreliable to be really successful in this country, although it is well worth growing in a sunny spot and its home remains the best source. It has those skin and flesh qualities so much admired in Cox and keeps well, both in this country and on its epic journey across the world.
To me, it is the apple I most look forward to eating. Their many and various qualities speak for themselves, but their long and happy future is assured by their lineage.
The best Cox’s apple varieties to eat and grow — including one you’ll never see in a supermarket
Charles Quest-Ritson takes us beyond the Granny Smith to explore other varieties of this quintessentially English fruit. Charles Quest-Ritson loves apples — but laments the fact that we simply don't have the same vocabulary to describe the fruit. Steven Desmond explains the mysteries of the pear — and suggests a few varieties who want to take the plunge and. Tom Coward, the head gardener at Gravetye Manor, talks about how to get the most out of your fruit tress.
Home Gardens Expert Gardening Tips. Charles Ross apples: you probably won't find them in a supermarket, but they're delicious, enormous and will flourish in your garden. Credit: Alamy. Asters: what they are, which ones to try and how to grow them.