Apple tree recommendations

[fiorentina]

We had to remove two rotten apple trees from our garden when we moved in a couple of years ago and now that I've sorted the rest of the garden I would like to plant two more. I'm aware you need two to pollinate, our neighbours have a few but any recommendations for good varieties that don't get too huge but have very tasty eating apples. We are off to an apple fair next month and hope to buy them there, so can probably taste test but suggestions welcome! Thank you.

The apple fair is a great plan! You can taste varieties and see if you like them, because the range of flavours you can get from apples is absolutely incredible. (My favourite is Laxton's Fortune, btw).

One nice idea might be to contact a heritage orchard or fruit society in your area, and see if you can buy the trees from them. Britain has a tremendous, diverse heritage in apples, and many of them are quite specific to a geographical area - so you will get apple trees that are grown almost entirely in Nottinghamshire, because that's how far they spread. Buying something that is historically meaningful to your local area is a lovely idea and it means you get a crop that is very special and unique that money simply can't buy.

You're right that pollination is an issue. Some apples are self-fertile, others require two or even three trees. Now in most places there are enough trees in a local area to ensure that this happens, so you don't need to worry too much. However, it can increase the crop a bit if you do have two trees that come out at once so there is a bit of a pollinator feast. (I think this is particularly useful in the current erratic springs we've been getting).

Think about rootstock too - this determines the eventual height/spread of the tree, and whether they will take to being trained in a fan/cordon/espalier should you wish to do that.

Thank you. That's really helpful. More food for thought!

What Holly said. Please don't get a Bramley - you can buy them easily - go for someting they don't sell in the shops. Or get a quince Cydonia oblonga (subject to pollination requirements of your single apple). It's almost imposible to buy quinces in the shops, and they are lovely - I planted one 4 years ago & it's now covered in beautiful yellow quinces, that will be gorgeous added to an apple pie, and make fantastic jam. ('Japonica quinces' are much smaller so only make jelly).

I second a quince. I have 5 in my garden.

I love them.

For eating; hard to say but at the fair, try a few and see which ones you like.

The best eating apples from our garden (14trees different apple trees) are from the Cox's Orange Pippen - gorgeous just off the tree far superior than any you can buy.

Watching with interest. Have same question. Want red apples though.

If you can get to Wisley, pop along now. They have 400 varieties of Apple, so you can spot the perfect red apple or whatever.

Doreen - 5 quinces!! Wow! You must have jam and jelly galore!

I planted a quince which was doing well until it started to suffer from leaf blight - the black spots on the leaves spread to the fruit which cracked and was then unusable. Eventually I had to remove it, now two nearby espalier apples have nasty blotches/cankery spots (non-scientific description), don't know if it's related. Doreen, do you know what variety your quinces are, are they resistant? I'd love to try again.

Fiorentina - Lord Lambourne is a really tasty apple and has quite a 'greasy' skin so keeps well. Good to cook with too.

Thanks. I will taste them but that sounds a good option. Kids love to eat apples but also love crumble!!

I have ten different apple trees that I planted eight years ago. The ones that crop reliably, producing large tasty apples with no disease are the golden delicious (they look beautiful on the tree and taste great) and the discovery. The others are a bit of a disappointment really, perhaps they just need longer to get going? The golden delicious makes fantastic tarte tartin.

this is the website I generally use for fruit trees. A wide variety, and they tell you about pollination types etc.

Bucks

Good selection of pears as well. But I've just planted 10 sloes, and 10 hazel