Duke of Devonshire

Duke of Devonshire is a richly flavoured russet dessert apple with excellent keeping qualities.

Crisp and firm at harvest, the flesh develops a tender texture and deeper complexity after storage.

Features

• Traditional heritage russet variety of dessert apple
• Firm and crisp when freshly harvested
• Develops a tender, rich texture in storage
• Sweet-sharp flavour with nutty fruit-drop notes
• Excellent keeping qualities
• Moderately vigorous spreading growth habit
• Spur-bearing and productive
  

Origins / Notes

Raised during the 1830s by Wilson, head gardener to the Duke of Devonshire in Cumbria. It became valued as a high-quality keeping apple with flavour that improves significantly after harvest.

Disease Resistance

Very resistant to apple scab.
Some susceptibility to powdery mildew.

Pollination Season

Mid-season

Harvesting Season

Late season, typically October.

Storage

Keeps for up to 5 months in cold storage. Best eating window is from late autumn through winter, when flavour becomes richer and more complex.

Need help choosing your Rootstock?

Please refer to our Rootstock Guide in the first instance.

Need help making your apple tree selection? 

You might want to read our Guide: How to choose the right apple tree for you that gives an overview of all the decisions you'll need to make and tips on making the best ones for you. 

Whereas varieties determine the type of apple you get, the rootstock determines the growing characteristics, vigour and ultimate height of the tree.

Selecting the right rootstock for your site and preference is just as important as the variety you chose. The different rootstocks we graft with and their uses are listed below.

M26 – Semi dwarf. Up to 3m high. Requires staking. Used for bush trees. Suitable for small gardens & allotments, for training into cordons & espaliers. Startsbfruiting after 2-3 years. Space bush trees 2-4m apart.

M116 – Medium. A semi-vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 3-4m high. Good for wet soil conditions. Start fruiting after 3-4 years.  Space trees 3.6m with 4.5m between the rows.

MM106 – Medium. A semi-vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 3-4m high. Good for half standards, espaliers, cordons. Start fruiting after 3-4 years. Space trees 3.6m with 4.5m between the rows.     

M111 – Large. A vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 4m high. Tolerates wet ground, more exposed sites, higher altitudes, and shallower soil conditions, has good disease resistance. Good for farms, larger smallholdings. Start fruiting after 4-5 years   Space trees 4-6m apart with 6m between the rows.

M25– Very Large. A very vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 6m (20ft) high. Grow as full or half standard. Ideal in poorer soil in exposed sites. Not ideal for the most gardens unless the soil is poor. Start fruiting after 5-6 years.  Space trees 4.5m apart with 6m between the rows.

Mid Season

For more information about pollination groups, please click here.