Apple Recommendations please

I want to grow some espaliers too, so will be interested in what varieties you choose John - and what rootstocks.

I had planned to grow Family trees, to get additional varieties [grafted] on each "limb", but was told by a grafter that that would make the plant unbalanced, and some varieties would be more vigorous - at the expense of the others. So I ain't going to do that now

I bought my wife an Apple Rack last year (posh antique model, with a hinged-flap and padlock to stop the staff from nicking them, presumably!). It has slatted drawers and hopefully will enable prolonging the season, but getting varieties that crop over a long period would be ideal.

Our youngest misheard me and said "YOU'RE GETTING MUMMY AN APPLE MAC?"

 

I've had a Cox's Orange Pippin in the garden for 3 years now (it was a christening present for our son), I grow it as a small goblet shaped tree with an open centre. It does really well and has had no problems with pests or diseases and the apples taste great. I can't remember what root stock it was on but I assume its not too vigorous because its not growing too fast. This is the first apple tree I have grown so I can't compare it with any other, sorry I can't offer more advice...

 

I like the taste of Discovery. I would also like to grow a/some cooker(s) - assuming that is possible using Espalier, and ditto for Pears.

Personally I don't like the taste of Cox's, but most people I know do, so makes sense to grow that too. We have some lovely apples here, but on old, huge, poorly pruned trees, so I have no idea what varieties they are. I ought to attempt to find out as it would be nice to have them in my "Fruit and Nut" garden as Espaliers if they are suitable.

The RHS has numerous pages on "The Top 10 XXXX" - perhaps they have one on Apples?

 

Not advice to Kristen (as described as lovely), but if you have large, old trees and don't like the apples for eating, try getting them pressed for juice as 'rubbish' eaters can very often be great juicers.

Juicing your apples is a great way of preserving what would otherwise be wasted.

 

Hiya John.

When I first moved to this house, one of the first things I did was to plant some fruit trees. Among these were two apple trees, Cox and James Grieve. This year the Cox were disappointing, regarding the size and quantity of apples. I was however really pleased with both the flavour and size of the James Grieve. I think mine too are on MM106 rootstock, and so far they are behaving themselves Having said that I was disappointed at the Cox, in previous years I was very happy with them. A good idea to try to do a tasting first, as taste is such a personal thing.

Cheers...Freddy

 

And next month there should be loads of "Apple Days", many of which will be free (I do 2 free ones within 10 miles) and include such things apple tasting, apple indentification, grafting demonstrations and perhaps the chance to juice any excess harvest.

 

I'll get back to you on this one John...when i find the name of the apple my neighbour planted....i think it's a wonderfull Apple....i'm sure it's from the 'pippin' variety...has a lovely blush colour and a very faint taste of anniseed....Right where's my book

 

I have "Sunset" they dont keep for long but one of the nicest I have tasted and juices well .

Spruce

 

Found it John...where did i get 'pippin' from....it's called Ellison's Orange...i'm not up onApples but i can tell you this much... i think it's delicious....'They' reckon it can have problems with canker but my neighbours tree hasn't missed a beat...a lovely tree IMHO

 

Yep....got it now....one of the parent plants is a Cox's orange pippin........knew i'd heard it somewhere

 

Sorry, forgot this thread was here and started my own (in case anyone reading this thread is interested)
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/best-apples-and-pears-for-espalier.47897/