Category: Apple trees
Collections: English heritage apple trees, Apples trees for Cider / Juice, Russet apple trees
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Apple trees

Ashmead's Kernel

Ashmeads Kernel is an old green russeted apple with a rather unattractive appearance, often mis-shapen, and rather dull. The underlying bright green skin is entirely covered in a drab russet.

Yet appearances can be deceiving. Ashmeads Kernel has remained popular for well over 2 centuries, and with good reason: it has a strong distinctive flavour which is quite different from most other apple varieties. Tasters rarely agree on exactly what the elusive flavour reminds them of, but pear drops is probably close.

Although often considered as a connoisseur's dessert apple, Ashmead's Kernel is actually quite versatile.  It can be used for cooking, or sliced in savoury salads, and it keeps very well in a cold store.

Fresh fruit for sale of this variety

Ashmead's Kernel 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
Very small (1.5m - 2m)1-year - Bare-root - M27 rootstockNov-March£30.00
Very small (1.5m - 2m)2-year - 12L container - M27 rootstockSept-April£36.00
Medium (2.2m - 3m)1-year - Bare-root - M26 rootstockNov-March£30.00
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)2-year - Bare-root - MM106 rootstockNov-March£36.00
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.



Alternative varieties

Egremont Russet

The classic English russet apple, slightly sweeter flavour than Ashmeads Kernel.(In stock)


Uses

  • Flavour quality - Exceptional
  • Flavour style - Aromatic
  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for juice
  • Picking season - Late
    October
  • Use / keeping - 3 months or more
    keeps well

Growing

  • Cropping - Light
  • Fertility - Self-sterile
  • Flowering group - 5
  • Disease resistance - Good
  • Attractive blossom

Climate

Pollination partners for Ashmead's Kernel

Ashmead's Kernel is in flowering group 5. It is self-sterile and needs a pollination partner nearby. The following varieties will pollinate Ashmead's Kernel:

Important: advice about pollination


Horticultural characteristics of Ashmead's Kernel apple trees

Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, and perhaps because it is such an ancient variety, it is relatively disease resistant.  The main horticultural challenge is the light cropping, which is not easily remedied although planting another late-flowering apple tree nearby will help.

This is an apple variety that improves in storage - keep it in a cool fridge for a month or so after picking.

Historical details

Originates in the 1700s.



Ashmead's Kernel - Fruit

Ashmead's Kernel - Fruit

Click to view larger image



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