History of the Crawley Reinette apple

Introduced by J Cheal & Sons, Crawley. It was recorded as a variety by the RHS in 1902.

It is currently cultivated as part of Brighton Permaculture Trust’s National Collection in Stanmer Park, Brighton. You can see a Crawley Reinette apple tree (planted 2010) in Home Farm Orchard, Stanmer Park ( map).

Description of fruit

The Crawley Reinette apple is quite sharp and becomes sweeter in October, with firm, cream flesh. The skin is yellow with an orange-red flush with some russetting and prominent lenticels. Size medium. Shape convex to straight. Truncate to conic. Reinette refers to the areas of russet on the apple, though it was originally intended to denote a fruit of quality (Saunders 2010).

Season of use

Ripe in mid-October and can be stored until February.

Notes on cultivation

The Crawley Reinette tree is moderately vigorous.

Flowering and pollination

Flowering day: F15

How to identify a Crawley Reinette apple

Apples can be identified by sending them to the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale or by bringing a sample to Apple Day Brighton, where an expert pomologist will be on hand to identify apples. From each tree, bring three or more ripe fruits and a shoot with representative leaves.

Where to buy a Crawley Reinette apple tree

Please contact us for details of our supplier for Sussex apple varieties.