Choosing Apple Varieties to Grow in Your Garden or Orchard

Choosing apple varieties involves the pleasurable task of tasting many different apples to discover which ones you like! Whether you’re considering growing just a few small trees or you’re planning a new apple orchard from scratch there’s lots of fun to be had.

Apple tasting is most notably offered at all the Apple Days and Apple Festivals that occur during October in particular. Whilst this does give you an opportunity to eat heritage apple varieties local to your area, that’s only a part of it. For example, some apples are ready to pick in August and these may or may not still be available come October. Also, with the best will in the world, you may not be able to get to an apple tasting event for whatever reason. And did you know that you could eat a different variety of British grown apple daily for over 6 years?

Do not despair! I have suggestions and tips to help resolve the problem for you.

How to choose which apple trees to grow focuses on the essentials that you may not have even thought about if you’re not an expert. And if you are a seasoned gardener it acts as a useful checklist.
Some details will have to be part of your own research, unless you ask me to create an orchard for you (which I’d be happy to do!) But I suggest some apple varieties that you may not know to get you started.

“The fruit of Apples do differ in greatness, forme, colour and taste; some covered with a red skin, others yellowe or greene, varying indefinitely according to soyle and climate;some very great, some little and many of a middle sort; some are sweet or tastie, or something sower; most be of a middle taste”
John Gerarde 1597

How to Choose the right Apple Varieties for You – where to start

The first thing to ask yourself (and your family, if appropriate) is what you would like to achieve from planting and growing apples. List first,then we’ll go into a bit more detail: –

Would you like cookers, eating apples or a mix?
Do you only want easy, disease resistant varieties?
Would you like to have heritage apples and / or local varieties?
What about taste / texture?
If you want to be self-sufficient in apples, how many do you eat?
How much room do you have to grow apple trees?
Also need to know – soil and climate in your garden
And a bit about pollination groups (or you may not get fruit!)

And in roughly the same order…

Cooking Apples, Eating Apples, Dual Purpose Apples

What’s the difference between Cooking Apples, Eating Apples, aka Dessert Apples and Dual Purpose Apples? Broadly speaking: –

Cooking Apples, aka Culinary Apples, have a tarter taste. Their flesh generally cooks down to a soft puree.
Eating Apples, aka Dessert Apples, are sweeter, as in , they’re pleasant to eat raw. When cooked they tend to retain their shape when sliced.
Dual Purpose Apples are as they sound, good to eat raw and good to cook with.

Britain and North America separate apple varieties into cookers and eaters, whereas the French rarely do. This is probably less to do with the apple as a tree fruit and more to do with culinary style and recipes.

Do you only want easy, disease resistant varieties? Or would you like to have heritage apples and / or local varieties?

The more unusual apples may not be available in supermarkets, although you will find local apple varieties in Farmers Markets. Remember just because they’re heritage doesn’t mean you’ll like the taste! However, growing apples which are readily available in high street shops seems a little pointless unless they’re your absolute favourite or you have room for a large apple orchard.

Recent improvements have allowed some of the traditional cultivars to gain increased resistance to scab, for example, without impairing the flavour.

Local is not synonymous with heritage apple variety. There are more recent cultivars which have been developed to suit particular growing conditions.

What about taste / texture?

This is discussed in relation to apple varieties below.

If you want to be self-sufficient in apples, how many do you eat?

By saying ‘eat’, I am including dessert apples, cooking apples and dual purpose apples.

The average apple weighs about 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. Harvest quantities are often given in weight –kilos, pounds, bushels. So there are roughly 9 – 10 apples to a kilo; 4 – 5 apples to a pound (lb).

Bushels are an older unit of measurement which is still occasionally found. For the historians and geeks amongst you, a bushel was established in the Weights & Measures Act 1824 (Britain) and refers to volume. Of course this means that different commodities (eg apple fruit, apple seeds) required different amounts or weights to make up a bushel. Confused yet? Or are you of an age or inclination to know about bushels?! A British bushel of apples weighed 40lbs, ie about 200 apples.

But remember that apple varieties vary in size. And the size and health of the tree, the weather, soil and so on will all affect your overall harvest.

Also in this section is the question of storage. Some apples need to be eaten fairly quickly after picking, some will store for a few months.

How much room do you have to grow apple trees?

You may have a small courtyard, an average sized suburban garden, a half-acre rural plot. How much of that space would you like to give to your apple trees? This will affect the size of the trees you can grow. Standard, half-standard, dwarf and so on. It is possible to have most apple varieties grafted onto the root-stock of your choice. It is eminently possible to have a mini orchard to fit a mini garden; or to grow apple trees within your ornamental borders.

Soil and climate in your garden

One of the plus points about local varieties of apple is that they will like the soil and climactic conditions found in your area. This is likely to make them hardier, healthier and easier maintenance.

Shade –
Apples will tolerate some shade, ie they don’t need bright sunlight all day. They were (and are!) frequently found on the cooler aspect walls inside and on outside walls of a walled garden as trained forms. This is as well as being grown as a standard tree form in an orchard.

Soil –

Apples are tolerant of most soils, but perform less well in light, sandy soils, heavy clay and waterlogged soils. If yours is a light sandy soil or heavy clay, add plenty of rich organic matter to a large planting hole to improve the soil around the roots. For waterlogged soils, adding coarse organic matter will improve drainage.

Remember that your apple could grow into a substantial tree. Is there sufficient depth of soil?

Consider raising the planting area with new, humus rich top soil as a longer term solution.

Climate / Wind –

Apples prefer a sheltered, frost-free position. If heavy frost could be a problem then grow later blooming varieties (see pollination below) or provide protection.
Wind tunnels are not sensible places to grow any fruit trees. Place windbreaks, living or artificial, to reduce severity.

The degree of tolerance to these factors does depend on the variety. Consider local apples varieties which will be accustomed to your particular garden conditions. Smaller apple trees will grow quite happily in large containers – another way of resolving some of the above issues.

A quick word on Pollination

The vast majority of apple varieties need one or two other, different apple trees in order for pollination to take place.

Although many people have an ‘inherited apple tree’ in their garden it may not be the right cultivar to pollinate your new tree. If you know what variety it is, great, if not, it may be safer to ignore (or ask an expert).

Apple pollination groups are not difficult to get your head around. Basically, the majority of apple cultivars need an apple in the same and / or adjoining group in order to be pollinated.

Now the grouping of apples is not an absolute. Some may be classed as Group 2 in Nursery A and Group 3 in Nursery B. Where I’m giving general advice rather than choosing specific cultivars for a client, I suggest thinking in terms of early, mid and late season blossom rather than getting caught up in groups. So for example, an apple that blossoms in late April is not going to pollinate an apple that blossoms in late May. But it might pollinate an apple that blossoms late April / early May.

You also need to know that triploid apple cultivars need 2 other trees as pollinators not just one.

However, there are some self-fertile apple cultivars so if you have room for only one tree, limit yourself to considering these.

And yes, I will be returning to apple pollination and fruit tree pollination in more detail another time.

Choosing Apple Varieties – Taste and Texture

There are more than 3000 different types of apple grown in the UK. Obviously I can’t cover them all here! I’m just going to pick out a few that I haven’t already mentioned in other blogs (see links below). I will omit cider apples as they are less likely to be a garden choice, also varieties that are easily found in supermarkets.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine biting into your favourite apple. How does it smell? Does the skin resist your teeth? As you bite through, what flavours fill your nose and mouth?

Now look at the lists below and pick out the attributes that match your favourite apple. Then you’re on you’re way to finding the ones to grow in your garden or orchard!

Taste attributes –

Sweet
Tart
Tangy
Mild
Sharp
Pear-like
Strawberry-like
Apple-like
Floral
Perfumed

Texture attributes –

Skin-
Hard
Soft
Thin
Thick

Flesh –
Crisp
Crunchy
Hard
Soft
Powdery

Now, unless you’ve asked me to create an orchard or edible garden for you, you’ll need to add the elements of soil and so on to your list. There are blogs in Plews potting Shed on soil preparation, planting bare root trees, etc to help you. Or ask about a consultancy visit. Armed with this information, read onto discover if any of the selection meet your criteria and make your mouth water…

Choosing Apple Varieties to Grow in Your Garden or Apple Orchard

Just a few to whet your appetite! Also a quick explanation of russet and pearmain type apples. I’m aware that people sometimes think russet varieties are diseased when they’re not.

Russet apples

Russet type apples are not mainstream although you may find them in stores. With a slightly rough golden skin – “russetted” – they look a little pear-like. They have a rich nutty flavour, and moist rather than crisp flesh.
Delicious with a Cheshire or Wensleydale cheese I like taking these out as a snack; they’re somehow more filling. (that may just be me, of course!)

Egremont Russet is the Victorian classic, partially self-fertile. Group 2 / A

Hereford Russet is a good modern cultivar, particularly for northern areas, with good frost tolerance. Self-fertile

Pearmain apples

Although there is disagreement over the origin of the name, pearmain apples are generally accepted to be ‘pear-like’ in either flavour, shape or both. But more noticeably in their keeping ability. The first pearmain apple record dates back to 1204.

Worcester pearmain is the most well-known. It is a tip bearer so not as suitable for growing as a trained form. Group 3 / B

Blue pearmain apple has a blue bloom to the skin. Mild pear / vanilla taste. Needs to be left to ripen after picking. An heirloom apple from the Big Apple – New York State in the 1700s and introduced to the UK in the late 1800s. Group 3 / B

Laxtons pearmain, aka Bedford pearmain Group 4 / D / E

Something a bit different

Tickled Pink apple
A deep red skin and red flesh. This apple also has red blossom and a reddish leaf. Very decorative! A dual purpose apple, it’s good for juicing and keeps its shape well during cooking. Group 3 / B / C

Black Gilliflower apple
Large, oblong ribbed fruit. Dark red skin deepening to almost black. Rich yet sweet flavour, moderately juicy and with a distinctive aroma. This is possibly another New England apple, known there since the late 18th century, but some sources now consider it to have been originally an English apple variety. Best picked as late as possible, it will store until February. Group 3 / B / C

Chenango Strawberry apple
Medium to large fruit smooth, Flesh is juicy, aromatic with a hint of strawberries. Group 4 / D

Heritage Apples

Catshead apple
Catshead is one of the oldest apples known in England. Supposedly named for its cat’s head shaped fruit, which is conical. An excellent culinary apple, I’d rank it higher than a Bramley. Triploid. Group 3 / C

Court Pendu Plat
Court Pendu Plat is old apple variety from France, with a history dating back to at least the early 1600s. It has a distinctive flattened shape, a fruity rather than apple flavour, moist rather than juicy. One of my gardening students grows this one; an enjoyable fruit. Group 5 /6 /G

Orleans Reinette
Possibly of French origin, definitely in England form 1776. A dessert apple par excellence. Although I am biased. I grow this fruit tree as the taste is my perfect apple! Crisp with a rich apple flavour, perfumed aroma. Group 4 / E

And finally

There is no rush to choose an apple tree. You’re looking at a medium to long term investment, so it pays to take your time choosing apple varieties for your garden or orchard that are going to please you for years to come. If you’d like help with choosing and creating a fruit garden or a garden with fruit, do please get in touch.

For further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.

If you’d prefer hands-on personal help from yours truly to learn more about your garden and gardening, why not ask about our bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden. We can help you learn gardening basics, and also show you how to plan an ornamental border or kitchen garden. Have a read through this pdf download for info

And you can have a peek at the progress of my garden renovation, Spitfires and Slow Worms, on Instagram and Facebook You may even get to see it in person early 2025 as I’m planning a couple of workshops. I had hoped to do that already but house renovations have been as big a thing as garden reno so there hasn’t been the room. Keep an eye on the website and social media for an update.