Gloucestershire Orchard Group

Conserves, promotes and celebrates traditional orchards in Gloucestershire

How to get fruit identified

You will need to make contact before sending in samples as there is normally a charge and specific instructions.

Marcher Apple Network

www.marcherapple.net

Sheila Leitch: 01497 847354

Brogdale Horticultural Trust

Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ

01795 535286

www.brogdale.org.uk

Royal Horticultural Society

Wisley Gardens, Surrey GU23 6QB

01483 224234

www.rhs.org.uk

Richard Toft/John Edgeley

Pershore College, Avonbank, Worcestershire WR10 3JP

01386 552443  

Sarah Juniper

The Apple Factor, 109 Woodmancote, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 4AH

01453 545675

www.sarahjuniper.co.uk/applefactor

Here at the Gloucestershire Orchard Group, we hope you will appreciate that we have little manpower for identification at present and we get scores of enquiries each year.  However, we do offer free fruit id through Pershore College workshops. You can also speak to Dave Kaspar (01452 813602), particularly at Bristol or Stroud farmers markets or leave labelled samples with GOG representatives at various apple day events (especially Gloucester farmers market).    Charles Martell is not able to offer an identification service, unless for specific reasons (contact Gloucestershire Orchard Group secretary Ann Smith for info).

Perry Pear identification  – Malvern Autumn Show every September, bringing your samples to compare with Jim Chapman and Charles Martell’s extensive display. Once the Orchard Centre is completed at Hartpury, there should be further opportunities to identify your perry pears, through displays, courses and field guides, in time.

1. Send at least three specimens of each cultivar (variety). The specimens should be typical of the cultivar, neither bruised nor imperfect, and should have reached maturity, showing characteristic size and colour.
2. If possible, a sample of young shoot with foliage.
3. Give as many details as possible, eg the soil, age of the tree, how regularly it crops, its habit (photo helpful), and the source of supply if known.
4. An s.a.e. for the reply.

If a tree is known to have been raised from a pip, it is a new and therefore nameless cultivar and its fruit should not be sent for identification.

Number each sample and keep a record of the tree, bush or plant from which it was taken, as fruit cannot be returned. Apples and pears are best numbered in biro or marking ink on the skin. Plums and soft fruit should be securely packed in separate, clearly numbered bags. Do not use stick-on labels as they are liable to become loose in the post.

Pack in newspaper, polystyrene granules or similar material, in a strong box that will not be crushed in the post, and mark the wrapper "FRUIT NAMING". Do not use a box that has contained, for example, soap, as the smell masks the characteristic flavour of the fruit.