Category: Apple trees
Collections: UK dessert apple orchard collection, English heritage apple trees, Cox's Orange Pippin substitutes, Apple trees suitable for organic culture
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Apple trees

Kidd's Orange Red

Kidd's Orange Red is one of the select band of apple varieties which can truly be said to rival the definitive Cox's Orange Pippin for flavour.  It is primarily a sweet apple, but unlike most sweet apples it has a rich complexity to the flavors too.  Kidd's Orange Red is fairly crisp but also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour. It's in some ways reminiscent of a good French dessert wine - sweet, but with a good kick to it.

The tree grows attractively, and the crimson pink blossom is a particular feature.

Although primarily a dessert apple, Kidd's Orange Red also produces a very pleasant sweet apple juice.

Kidd's Orange Red is grown commercially on a small scale, and the fruit is sometimes available from farmers markets.

Fresh fruit for sale of this variety

Kidd's Orange Red apple trees for sale (2010/2011 season)

Deliver to mainland UKDelivery to the mainland UK (price includes delivery)

Mature heightSupplied as*Delivery
period		Price
inc. delivery		Quantity
Small (1.8m - 2.5m)1-year - Bare-root - M9 rootstockNov-March£30.00No stock
Small (1.8m - 2.5m)1-year - 3L container - M9 rootstockSept-April£29.00No stock
Small (1.8m - 2.5m)2-year - Bare-root - M9 rootstockNov-March£36.00No stock
Medium (2.2m - 3m)1-year - Bare-root - M26 rootstockNov-March£30.00
Medium (2.2m - 3m)2-year - Bare-root - M26 rootstockNov-March£36.00No stock
Medium (2.2m - 3m)2-year - 12L container - M26 rootstockSept-April£36.00
Large (2.5m - 4.5m)1-year - Bare-root - MM106 rootstockNov-March£30.00
Large (2.5m - 4.5m)1-year - Bare-root - MM106 rootstock
Captain Kidd		Nov-March£30.00
Large (2.5m - 4.5m)2-year - 12L container - MM106 rootstockSept-April£36.00

Product formats | Bare-root or Container-grown | Delivery | Rootstocks

All prices include delivery. We offer a discount on orders of multiple bare-root trees for delivery at the same time - this will be shown at the checkout.

*Delivery period: Container-grown trees will be delivered from September 2010. Bare-root trees will be delivered from mid-November 2010. You can order now and your items will be reserved for you, but you will not be asked to pay until nearer the time of delivery.



Uses

  • Flavour quality - Exceptional
  • Flavour style - Aromatic
  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for juice
  • Picking season - Late
  • Use / keeping - 1-2 months
    Will keep in a cold store until Christmas

Growing

  • Cropping - Light
  • Fertility - Self-sterile
  • Flowering group - 3
  • Gardening skill - Easy
  • Disease resistance - Average
    Not usually troubled by scab or mildew
  • Vigour - Average growth
  • Attractive blossom

Climate

Pollination partners for Kidd's Orange Red

Kidd's Orange Red is in flowering group 3. It is self-sterile and needs a pollination partner nearby. The following varieties will pollinate Kidd's Orange Red:

Important: advice about pollination


Horticultural characteristics of Kidd's Orange Red apple trees

It often seems that apples with the best flavor are the most difficult to grow, but this is not the case with Kidd's Orange Red.  It is very easy to grow, generally problem-free, and makes an excellent garden variety for most regions, including cold temperate climates.  It forms an attractive-looking tree with long branches which grow vertically when the tree is young but then bend over with fruit as the tree comes into bearing.  (If necessary, tie the young branches towards the horizontal to improve the appearance - this will also help cropping).

The only caveats are that the fruit ripens late in the season, and may not always ripen in a poor temperate summer, and it is not a heavy-cropper (although it does produce a good crop).  Fruit size can be on the small size so moderate thinning can be helpful as the fruitlets start to form.

Certainly worth considering as a feature apple tree.  In cool temperate climates, plant in a sunny aspect to help develop the fruit color.

Historical details

Kidd's Orange Red was developed in the 1920s by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd.  It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Delicious (as in Red Delicious) - a marriage of the Old World and the New World.  Captain Kidd is a 'sport' with a stronger red colour.



Kidd's Orange Red - Fruit

Kidd's Orange Red - Fruit

Click to view larger image


Kidd's Orange Red - Fruit

Kidd's Orange Red - Fruit

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Kidd's Orange Red - Blossom

Kidd's Orange Red - Blossom

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Example trees as supplied (container-grown only)

This is an illustration of what our products look like as delivered. Please remember that trees are natural products, so this information is for general guidance only. The trees at this stage are 1-2 years old, and will get larger as they grow older, the likely mature heights are indicated in the ordering section above. The trees you receive may differ in some respects from those shown here, for some of the following reasons:

  • Many of these photos were taken in early autumn - trees delivered during winter will not have leaves.
  • There can be a considerable size variation between different varieties of the same species.
  • Some varieties naturally "feather" or produce many side branches at an early age. Others may not feather at all.
  • In some cases we may have to "tip" the tops of trees to fit in our delivery cartons. Please do not be alarmed, as this will be carried out immediately prior to despatch, and is actually good practice when planting a new tree.

For comparison purposes the model in our photos is 5ft 6" / 1m 68cm tall. Click any of the images to view a larger one.




Product photo
2-year pre-trained apple tree in a 12L container on M27 rootstock
Product photo
2-year pre-trained apple tree in a 12L container on M26 rootstock
Product photo
2-year pre-trained apple tree in a 12L container on MM106 rootstock
Product photo
1-year apple tree in a 3L container on M9 rootstock
Product photo
Cordon apple tree in a 12L container on M9 rootstock