Discovery
Dessert apple
Dessert apple
Malus domestica Borkh.
Raised in about 1949 by Mr Drummer, a workman on an Essex fruit farm. It was first named 'Thurston August' but renamed Discovery in 1962 and introduced by nurseryman J. Matthews, Thurston, Suffolk. Fruits have firm, fine-textured, juicy flesh with a fairly sweet and pleasant flavour.
Synonyms:
Thurston August
Availability
Material available from the National Fruit Collection.
Material held in the East of England Apples & Orchards Project
Material held in the Marcher Apple Network collections (Tredomen)
Parentage:
Worcester Pearmain x Beauty of Bath
Mother to:
Limelight
Fruit Size
medium to large b
Fruit Shape
flat, rectangular to truncate-conic, convex b
Fruit Height
45-61 mm b
Fruit Width
60-77 mm b
Ribbing
slightly ribbed at eye, very even b
Ground Colour
pale greenish yellow b
Over Colour
flushed bright red b
Russet Type
light dots, fine scattered russet, solid russet at base b
Flesh Colour
yellowish white, tinged pink b
Flesh Texture
crisp b
Flavour
subacid b
Accession name
Discovery (EMLA 1)
Flowering time
7th May 10% flowering
12th May Full (80%) flowering
19th May 90% petal fall
Picking time
Mid August a
Accession name
Discovery (original tree No. 1)
Accession name
Discovery (original tree no.2)
Size
medium a
Type
Dessert a
Shape
Flat a
Height
45.38 mm a
Width
63.00 mm a
Ribbing
weak-medium a
Crown
absent a
Ground Colour
Whitish yellow a
Over Colour
Orange a
Over Colour (Pattern)
striped/solid flush a
Russet
low a
References:
a. NFC fruit (undated) Unpublished characterisation by staff at NFC, Brogdale.
b. Smith, M. (1971) National Apple Register