An attractive, highly disease-resistant apple, ideal for organic growers.
D'Arcy Spice Apple on G.890 (Spring 2024)
A rare heirloom from Essex. Also known as Baddow Pippin.
This tree slow growing but tolerant of poor, dry soils. It is somewhat resistant to mildew and apple scab, and the USDA reports a high level of fireblight resistance. It is partially self-fertile, but will be more productive with a pollinizer. It is itself a poor pollinizer.
The apple ripens late in the season, and can store well for the whole winter. It is a smallish apple, flushed red over green, and scruffed with light russet. The flesh is firm and breaking with a high acid, spicy flavor that is not fully developed until about a month after harvest when the spice becomes "Christamasy" with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. This is one of the best late heirloom varieties.
D'Arcy spice was discovered around 1785 in the garden of D'Arcy Hall in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. It was introduced commercially as Baddow Pippin.
The Fruit
Fruit Type
Category: Apple
Subcategory:
Heirloom
Fruit Uses & Storage
Uses: fresh eating, baking, storage, sauce
Storage duration: three plus months (approximate, depending on storage conditions)
Fruit Appearance
Skin color: russeted
Flesh color: off-white
Fruit Origins
Parentage: unknown
Origin: Essex, England
Introduced in: 1785
Introduced by:
The Environment
Calendar & Geography
USDA zones: 5 - 9
Chill hours: Not yet determined
Ripening date: Oct 25 (approximate, in New York State) + 40 days after McIntosh
Tree Height & Spacing
glossary
Rootstock: G.890 Rootstock
Rootstock size class: Half-Standard (60% of Standard)
Tree spacing (natural spread of tree): 18'
Good for wildlife planting? N
Diseases & Pests
glossary
Powdery Mildew: Resistant
Fireblight: Very Resistant
Apple Scab: Resistant
Pollination
Pollination Factors
glossary
Bloom group: 3
Is it self-fertile? Partial
Is it fertile? Y
Rootstock size class:
Half-Standard (60% of Standard)
Pollination Partners
This table shows the first few results from a full search for pollenizers of D'Arcy Spice Apple on G.890. Please see our Pollenizer Search to run other queries and read how the application uses various factors. Also read more about fruit tree pollination.
See all pollination matches for D'Arcy Spice Apple on G.890
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