Apple (Malus) Ashmead's Kernel — Bush, 12L Container, M26

A true connoisseur's apple, Ashmead's Kernel is a heritage russet dating back to the early 1700s and still regarded as one of the finest-flavoured apples ever grown. Its greenish-gold fruits, overlaid with a fine brown russet, have crisp, juicy flesh and a rich, nutty sweetness balanced by a lively sharpness, with a hint of pear drop. Picked in mid-October, the flavour deepens in storage, and the apples keep well into February. It also makes excellent juice, and the blossom is particularly pretty in spring.

Grown as a bush on semi-dwarfing M26 rootstock, it forms a compact tree of around 2–3m, ideal for smaller gardens. Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil and provide a permanent stake. Ashmead's Kernel is self-sterile and in pollination group D, so it needs a suitable partner from groups C, D or E nearby to crop.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.