Bramley apple trees - are they "easy", hardy and if so where can I get one mail order?

[broguemum]

Can you help me please? I live in Luxembourg and cannae get a decent cooking apple for love nor money in the shops. I am therefore planning to plant one in my garden (I'm thinking long term). However, we live in a frost pocket, have poor heavy clay soil and v. cold winters every so often. Does anyone know if a Bramley apple tree could survive this? Do you know of a reputable supplier? Will I need more than one tree as there sure as heck won't be any other Bramley trees around for cross pollination?

Many thanks for your help.

yup they are v hardy and fine
don't need another for cross pollination
try crocus.co.uk or keepers-nursery.co.uk. for mail order, but I'm sure you could get one closer to luxembourg than the \uk though...

You usually buy them ready trained to the sort of shape you want them to end up - ie: standard, half standard etc.so you might want to think about that. I think they may graft the different types onto different rootstocks.

Thanks for that PPH. I have actually asked in all the local nuseries here and they look at me like I've asked if I could eat their granny for breakfast. Might try Germany.... Seriously though I have never seen a cooking apple here. I've been here for 15 years and whenever my family visit they bring over bags and bags of apples....

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