Benoni
Dessert apple
Dessert apple
Malus domestica Borkh.
Raised in about 1830 on the farm of Mr Mason Richards, Dedham, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Introduced to England by Rivers of Sawbridgeworth. Fruits have tender, juicy flesh with a sweet and pleasant, moderately aromatic flavour.
Synonyms:
Fail me never, Fail-me-Never
Availability
Material available from the National Fruit Collection.
Sports:
Red Benoni
Fruit Size
medium b
Fruit Shape
variable, tall to intermediate, rectangular to truncate-conic, straight to convex b
Fruit Height
45-61 mm b
Fruit Width
55-62 mm b
Ribbing
slightly ribbed at eye b
Ground Colour
pale yellow b
Over Colour
flushed light red, striped crimson b
Russet Type
russet at base b
Flesh Colour
yellow b
Skin Texture
smooth, thin, greasy, tender b
Flesh Texture
tender, fine b
Flavour
sweet-subacid, aromatic b
Tree
upright b
Accession name
Benoni
Flowering time
4th May 10% flowering
9th May Full (80%) flowering
16th May 90% petal fall
Picking time
Early September a
Size
small a
Type
Dessert a
Ground Colour
Whitish yellow a
Over Colour
Red a
Over Colour (Pattern)
striped/solid flush a
Greasiness
Medium a
Coarseness
fine a
Flesh Colour
Yellowish a
References:
a. NFC fruit (undated) Unpublished characterisation by staff at NFC, Brogdale.
b. Smith, M. (1971) National Apple Register