Description
Raised by Mr Jacobs in Kent in 1849, this was originally called Jacob's Strawberry. Local nurseryman Edward Bunyard saw some in 1884 and renamed it after his best customer, the Sudeley estate, who had just bought over half a million trees from him! Beautiful large fruit - bold red stripes and pink flushing - which are sweet, firm and juicy. Excellent early dessert variety.
"I mean no offence when I observe that had George Bunyard lived today, he would be hailed as a marketing guru or decried as a spin doctor. The little known Jacob's Strawberry would have probably languished and faded on the Sussex estate from whence it came had Bunyard not introduced it with fanfare in 1885, renaming it for the Lady of the Sudeley Estate, his best customer (a half million trees for the Toddington Fruit Company in Gloucester). At a time when large bright 'Yankie' imports were squeezing British growers hard, this apple was a great patriotic retort. As colourful as the competition and as brilliant as the dresses of Lady Sudeley, it became an important commercial fruit up until the 1930s. It was widely grown in the north of Scotland; we are reliably informed that it tastes better in Lancashire than Cumbria. Its flavour has a very highly aromatic juicy prime, which is elusive; Edward Bunyard says 'For the best result if should be gathered before willing, and stored in the fruit room for a week or two and sampled from day to day till the exact moment arrives.' The previous owner of my Handbook of Fruits grew it as 'a cordon by the greenhouse', which must have been beautiful, Lady Sudeley is as lovely in blossom as in fruit; I hope he seized the moment." © Lin Hawthorne - 'The Northern Pomona'.
For help with choosing the correct rootstock for your needs, please click here A Guide to Rootstocks
For help with choosing the correct size and shape, please click here A Guide to Fruit Tree Shapes