Apple Variety: Jonagored
Jonagored is the terrible
name given to an apple which is really very good. To begin with,
Jonagold was bred in 1943 in Geneva, New York, and released in
1968. It got its name because it was a cross between
Jonathan and Golden Delicious, and so the first four letters of
each word were combined to give the new name. Jonathan was once
a very popular apple with really good flavour, but unfortunately
it could get very soft, and over the years, possibly as people’s
teeth improved, the Jonathan became less popular. In an attempt
to make a firmer Jonathan, it was crossed with Golden Delicious
(an apple which is harder), and the result was Jonagold.
Everyone agreed that this was a good daughter, having inherited
the flavour from its mother (Jonathan) and firm texture from its
father (Golden Delicious).
Jonagold became very popular in
Ireland, because it does well in cold climates, and it was
widely planted in the early 1980’s. However, it has now been
replaced with a better coloured version called Jonagored.
Jonagored was discovered in 1980 by Mr. Morren in Belgium, and
he began propagating them in 1981. The original Jonagored arose by
accident, with one branch on a Jonagold tree giving really red
fruits, and this branch was then propagated to give more of the
same. I have been to visit the original Jonagored tree,
which is still alive and well, and it is amazing to see the
faintly coloured Jonagold apples on part of the tree, and the
bright red Jonagored apples on the other part.
Jonagored apples are available from the Celtic Orchards growers
from November onwards.
Red Windsor
| Red Elstar
| Jonagored | Red Prince