We are offering a selection of old traditional cultivars (varieties) plus the now famous Bardsey, discovered growing in isolation on a Welsh island in 1998. A number of additional cultivars have been added to our range since the 2009/10 season. These include a number of cultivars suitable for cider production (by popular request).
Apples are generally not self fertile so will require a pollinator from the same or adjacent pollination group. For example:a cultivar in pollination group 3 will require a pollinator from groups 2, 3 or 4. Triploids require a pollinator from the same or adjacent pollination group but will not provide reciprocal pollination. Hence the pollinator of a triploid requires its own separate pollinator.
Please note that the flowering period of a given cultivar can vary from place to place, as can its relative position compared to other cultivars. The apple Newton Wonder is listed by some nurseries as being in flowering group 5 (in a scale running from 1 to 5), while in Martin Crawford's excelent Directory of Apple Cultivars it is in group D (in a scale running from A to H). The system employed here uses 5 groups, with group 1 being the earliest flowering.
Months listed refer to eating period. Some apples will keep considerably longer in good storage conditions.
Rootstocks
Cultivars (varieties) listed are available on r MM106 (semi-vigorous) rootstock or sometimes on M25 (vigorous) or MM116 (slightly less vigorous than MM106).
M25. This rootstock is very strong and will produce trees of up to 6 meters. The roots provide great anchorage meaning the tree only requires staking in the most exposed sites, and even then only for a couple of years. M25 rootstock is quite tolerant of poor soil conditions, but does not appreciate waterlogging. It should be used in tough conditions or where there is a lot of space for the tree to develop.
MM106. This rootstock is quite vigorous and will produce trees of 3-5 meters. Trees generally require staking for the first 3-5 years. MM106 is suitable for a wide range of conditions but is generally most suitable for orchards or larger gardens.
Most cultivars can also be supplied on M26 (semi dwarfing) M9/M27 (dwarfing rootstock) at special request. These rootstocks are more suited to small gardens.
A large number of cultivars not listed here can also be supplied. There is a €5 surcharge per tree for special requests.
Tree types
Maiden - Young tree
Bush Trained - Topped at 75cm with some side branch development
Straight Lead - Maiden grown on for further year, no side branches
Half Standard - Topped at 2m with good side branch development
Prices - barerooted trees
Maidens €16.50 Bush trained €20 Straight leads €22 Half Standards €24
Prices - pot-grown trees
A selection of the best barerooted trees have been carefully root-pruned and have been grown on in large pots. These trees are up to 2.5 meters in height and are trained as half standards. They are already capable of bearing fruit and can be planted out all year round. The trees are in twin handled, heavy rigid polythene pots, 45 litre (49cm) capacity. Prices start at €30.00. Please contact us for further details.
Barerooted trees
Allington Pippin
Eater. Sharp, crisp, aromatic. October to December. Resistant to scab. Can also be used for juicing and cider. Needs warm location. Unusual for apples, is partially self fertile. Pollination group 2. Lincolnshire c1880.
Ardcairn Russet
Irish eater. Dry and sweet with slight banana flavour. September. Resistant to scab. Pollination group 3. Cork c1890.
Bardsey
Dual purpose apple discovered growing wild on Ynys Enlii (Bardsey Island). Tasty eater when fully ripe. Growing at the Sustainability Institute premises since 2005. September to October. Pollination group 2.
Beauty of Bath
Small fruited sweet early eater. Very resistant to scab and partially resistant to canker. Better choice as an early eater than Irish Peach for high rainfall areas. August. Pollination group 2. Somerset c1860.
Ben's Red
Eater. Sweet, crisp, with hint of strawberries and raspberries. Very resistant to scab. Produces small, spreading tree, but heavy cropping. September. Pollination group 1/2. Cornwall c1830.
Bramley's Seedling
Justifiably famous cooker producing large crops of large well flavoured fruit. Hardy and vigorous. Moderately high in vitamin C (16mg/100g). Good for juice or cider production. October to March. Pollination group 3 but triplod. Nottingham 1809
Brownlee's Russet
Tasty eater with ornamental blossom. Aromatic, nutty flavour. Resistant to scab and canker. October to March (excellent storage). Pollination group 2. Herefordshire 1848
Charles Ross
Dual purpose apple: sweet but good for baking, cider making and juicing. Hardy and very resistant to scab. September. Pollination group 2/3. Berkshire 1890
Cornish Aromatic
Old favourite with very good resistance to canker and scab. Suitable for high rainfall areas. October to February. Pollination group 3. Cornwall 1813.
Court of Wick
Small juicy eater. Good flavour. Resistant to scab and canker. Good for juice production. October to December. Pollination group 3
Court Pendu Plat
Very old eating apple from France dating back to medieval times. Small, tasty, slightly pineapple flavoured fruit. Resistant to scab. November to January but will sometimes keep to May in good storage conditions. Pollination group 5. Performs well in poor growing conditions
Crawley Beauty
Cooker. Resistant to scab and canker. November to February. Becomes sweet late season. Pollination group 5. Sussex 1850
Dabinette
Cider apple. Full bittersweet, astringent. Resistant to scab. October to January. Pollination group 5. Regarded as one of the most reliable cider varieties. Somerset
D'Arcy Spice
Spicy eater with hint of nutneg. Also good for juice production. Resistant to scab and canker Very long keeper. November to May. Pollination group 3. Performs well in coastal locations. Essex 1785
Discovery
Eater. August. Possibly the tastiest of the early apples. Crisp with slight hint of strawberry. Bright red with pink coloured flesh. Does not keep. Homegrown ones are much tastier than the ones found in the shops. Pollination group 2/3. Essex 1949
Downton Pippin
Eater. Sometimes used for cider. Small and juicy with intense flavour. September to October. Pollination group 2. Shropshire c1800.
Edward VII
Cooker (Golden Noble x Blenhein Orange). Makes good puree. Upright tree. Resistant to scab. November to March. Pollination group 5. Worcester 1906. Said to be suitable for forest gardens as survives with minimal pruning
Egremont Russet
Tasty eater. Resistant to scab and canker hence suitable for high rainfall areas. October to December. Pollination group 2. Sussex 19th Century
Gennet Moyle
Cider apple. Bittersweet. Also used for cooking. Resistant to scab. Very strong grower. September to October. Pollination group 3. Triploid. Herefordshire 18th Century
Gladstone
Very early eater once wider planted in Ireland. Large fruit sometimes prone to cracking. Scab and canker resistant. Raspberry flavour. August but sometimes ripens by late July. Pollination group 3. Worcester 1860
Golden Pippin
Eater. Small russet with good resistance to scab and canker. Also used for cooking especially pies and for cider making. October to March. Pollination group 3. Origin unknown
Grenadier
Reliable early cooker (James Grieve x Golden Delicious). Not a good keeper so needs to be used soon after picking. Very resistant to scab and canke so suitable for high rainfall areas. August/September. Good pollinator for other varieties. Pollination group 3. Buckinghamshire 1875
Katja (syn Katy)
Tasty eater (James Grieve x Worcester Pearmain). Very reliable cropper. Also good for juicing and cider. Resistant to canker. September/October. Pollination group 3. Sweden 1947
Keswick Codlin
Dual purpose. Very profuse in flower and good cropper. August to September.Very resistant to scab. Pollination group 1. Early flowering so may not be suitable for frost-prone areas. Cumbria 19th Century
Lane's Prince Albert
Late cooker with striped appearance. Good in pies. Resistant to scab and canker so suitable for high rainfall areas. November to February. Pollination group 4 (but long flowering period so good pollinator for other varieties). Hertfordshire 1850
Laxton's Superb
Sweet juicy, aromatic eater (Wyken Pippen x Cox's Orange Pippin). Sometimes biennial. Susceptible to scab. November to January. Pollination group 4. Bedford 1897
Lemon Pippin
Dual purpose. Sweet and good for tarts. Reputedly good for drying as does not discolour when cut. Resistant to scab. October to March. Pollination group 4. Normandy early 19th Century
Newton Wonder
Cooker. Large juicy apple good for puree. Resistant to scab and canker. September to December. Pollination group 3/4. Derby 1870
Orleans Reinette
Eater. Dry, sweet and aromatic. Good resistance to scab and canker. Also used for cooking (keeps shape when cooked). October. Pollination group 4. France 18th Century
Pitmaston Pineapple
Conical fruit with rich pineapple flavour. Eater. Can be biennial. Resistant to scab. September to December. Pollination group 3. Hereford 1785
Rev W. Wilks
Early cooker. Resistant to scab and canker. Recommended for high rainfall areas. August to October. Pollination group 2. Berkshire 1908
Ribston Pippin
Eater. October to January. Juicy, firm, aromatic. Rich flavour. Very high in vitamin C (31mg/100g). Also good for cooking, juicing and cider. Pollination group 2. Triploid. Can be susceptible to canker. Originally raised in Yorkshire from pip imported from France c1707. Parent of Cox's Orange Pippin.
Rosemary Russet
Eater. Aromatic with excellent flavour. Also used for juice production. Good resistance to scab and canker. October. Pollination group 3. Middlesex 1830
Ross non Pareil
Eater. Intense flavoured russet grown in Ireland from a pip of French origin. Resistant to scab and canker. October to December. Pollination group 2. Rosslare, 18th Century.
St Edmund's Russet
Eater. Sweet, juicy with nutty flavour. Good resistance to scab and canker. Also used for juice and cider. September. Pollination group 2. Suffolk 1875
Sunset
Eater similar to Cox's Orange Pippin but hardier. Resistant to scab but can be susceptible to canker. October to December. Pollination group 3. Kent 1918.
Tom Putt
Cooker. Vigorous. Also used for juice and cider (sharp). Very resistant to scab. September. Pollination group 3. Devon 18th Century
Tremlett's Bitter
Cider. Full bittersweet. Slightly susceptible to scab. October. Pollination group 4. Devon 19th Century
Yarlington Mill
Cider apple. Medium bittersweet, vintage quality. Resistant to canker. October to November. Pollination group 4. Somerset
Delivery charges
1-3 trees €15.00
4-7 trees €20.00
8-12 trees €25.00
Over 12 trees €28.00
Orders may be also collected by arrangement from our premises in Westport.
Additional ordering information
Please use the printable order form provided or simply list the items on a sheet of paper. Add up the total, including carriage if applicable. Do not forget to include your own address and phone number. Payment should be by cheque postal order or bank draft, made payable to the Sustainability Institute.
The Sustainability Institute
Cooloughra
Ballinrobe Rd
Westport
Co. Mayo
Republic of Ireland