Apple (Malus) Bountiful — Patio, 11.5L container, M27

Bountiful lives up to its name. It is a reliable, heavy-cropping cooking apple, and this patio-sized tree puts homegrown cookers within reach of even the smallest garden. It was raised at East Malling Research Station in Kent in 1964, most likely from Cox's Orange Pippin crossed with Lane's Prince Albert. The large, pale green fruits are striped with orange-red and have sweet, juicy flesh that holds its shape well when cooked. That makes them perfect for neatly sliced tarts and pie toppings, and they need less sugar than sharper cookers. The apples are ready to pick in late September. Left to mellow in store, they lose their sharpness and can be enjoyed fresh as a crisp eating apple through to November.

This tree is grafted onto the very dwarfing M27 rootstock and reaches around 1.5–1.8m tall with a similar spread. Bountiful is naturally compact, so it is an excellent choice for a large patio container, a small border or a courtyard. Grow it in full sun or light shade in a well-drained, loam-based compost. As the tree establishes, move it into a pot at least 50cm across. M27 trees have a small root system, so keep the tree permanently staked and water it regularly through the growing season, especially while the fruit is swelling. A spring feed with a balanced fertiliser keeps cropping steady. Trees on M27 usually begin fruiting within a couple of years of planting.

Bountiful is hardy and has good resistance to mildew. It is not self-fertile, so plant it near another apple from a compatible pollination group, such as Discovery, James Grieve or Egremont Russet. In most built-up areas, neighbouring trees will also help with pollination.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.