Merton Orchard Project
The owners are trying to collect together and plant as
many of the remaining “Merton” or “John Innes”
named fruit varieties developed by the John Innes
Institution as possible.
They are also linking in with the ecological aims of the adjoining
Green Walk and providing wildlife resource and habitat.
Plants prefixed “Merton” were developed here in the Borough.
Work on the Orchard Project started January 2010.
There are now more varieties together here in the borough than
in any other location in the UK.
John Innes: a nineteenth century property and land dealer
in the City of London. In the 1860’s he developed Merton
Park, one of the first Garden Suburbs around Manor Farm.
On his death in 1904 he bequeathed his fortune and estate
to the improvement of horticulture by experiments and
research. The result was the establishment of the John
Innes Horticultural Research Institute, initially at his
Merton Park farm in Wimbledon, but now located at UEA
Norwich.
He was also instrumental in founding Rutlish School.
The orchard is located on a field corner left over when the
railway line to Croydon was built.
It was allotments during WW2 when they were “Digging
for Victory” but became derelict afterwards.
Pest Control
Not all Roses….Drought
Current John Innes and Merton Varieties Held
50 Merton Marvel cherry Dec 2012 back left Keepers
49 John Innes blackberry Jan 2013 fence Chris Bowers
48 Colney cherry Oct 2013
Brogdale Middle
47 Merton favourite cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers Right
46 Merton Reinette apple Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid
45 Mermat cherry Jan 2013
Chris Bowers Left
44 Summer Sun cherry Oct 2013
Brogdale Fence left
43 Merton Permain apple Oct 2013 Brogdale MidR
42 Merchant cherry Dec 2012
Keepers Nursery R
41 Merton Late cherry Dec 2012
Keepers R
40 Merton Star pear Oct 2013
Brogdale Mid
39 Merton Heart cherry Jan 2013
Chris Bowers L
38 Merton Prolific apple Oct 2013 Brogdale L
37 Merton Royal pear Oct 2013
Brogdale Mid
36 Merton Pippin apple Oct 2013
Brogdale M left
34 Pat cherry March 2013
Keepers Mid
32 Merpet cherry March 2013
Keepers Shed
30 Merton Gem plum Jan 2012
Keepers
29 Merton Crane Cherry Jan 2012
Keepers
28 Merton Pride Pear Jan 2012
Keepers pond
27 Merton Delight Apple Oct 2013
Brogdale
26 Chads favourite apple Oct 2013
Brogdale
25 Merton Worcester apple Oct 2012
Brogdale keeper
23 JI 3807 pear Oct 2012
Brogdale
22 Merton Beauty apple Oct 2012
Brogdale keeper
21 Merton Knave "Ace" apple Oct 2012 Brogdale
20 JI 4244 pear Oct 2012
Brogdale
19 JI 552 pear Oct 2012
Brogdale
18 Merton Russet apple Oct 2012
Brogdale
17 Merton Bigarreau cherry Feb 2012
R V Roger
16 Merton Charm apple Oct 2012
Brogdale keeper
15 Merton Joy apple Oct 2012
Brogdale
14 Merton Glory cherry April 2012
Orange Pippin
13 Gavin apple Oct 2012
Brogdale
12 Merton Thornless blackberry Feb 2012 Jparkers fence
4 Merton Premier cherry Feb 2012
R V Roger
Still to find and plant, some of
these are known to exist
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Merla cherry
JI 3884 pear
Merton Reward cherry
Merton Bounty cherry
Merton Blue plum
Merton Gage plum
Inge cherry
Hertford cherry
Merton Early blackberry
Lost to history?
• Rhubarbs
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Merton Banner
M. Broadleaf
M. Foremost
M. Yardstick
• Strawberries
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Merton Princess
Merton Herald
Merton Ruby
Merton Dawn
Harvester
Hedley
Tomatoes
Hertford Cross
Ware Cross
Puck
JR 6
Antimold A
Antimold B
Blackcurrant
Merton Cottage
The greatest legacy of JI Merton
Is not the tree varieties themselves. They have fallen out of
favour in the commercial market and not seen widespread
adoption in the domestic one.
The Merton Immune series of rootstocks (M.I. 778-793)
were developed in the 1930’s, only one is still being used
commercially; Merton 793.
Together with Malling College Kent in 1952, the MallingMerton (M.M.) series were developed. These were
numbered M.M. 101 — 115.
These rootstocks were developed to confer restricted
growth, disease resistance and other characteristics & are
being used all around the world, in their millions.