Apple (Malus) Bramley 20 — Patio, 11.5L container, M27

Bramley is Britain's favourite cooking apple, and this patio-sized Bramley 20 makes it possible to grow your own even on a terrace or in a courtyard. Developed in Bristol in the 1970s as a compact clone of the classic Bramley's Seedling, it is around 20% less vigorous than its parent yet produces heavier crops. The large, flattish green apples are often flushed red or orange on the sunny side, and their sharp, greenish-white flesh cooks down to a rich, cream-coloured purée, perfect for crumbles, sauces and traditional apple pie. The fruit is ready to pick in mid-October and, stored somewhere cool, keeps until March.

This tree is grafted onto the very dwarfing M27 rootstock, which tames Bramley's naturally vigorous habit. It reaches around 1.8–2m tall, making it well suited to a large patio container, a small border or a courtyard. Grow in full sun or light shade in a well-drained, loam-based compost, and move into a pot at least 50cm across as the tree establishes. M27 trees have a small root system, so keep them permanently staked and water 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.

Bramley 20 is a partial tip-bearer, carrying some fruit at the ends of the previous year's shoots, so leave some of the shorter shoots unshortened when pruning to avoid removing next year's crop. It is also a triploid, which means it cannot pollinate itself or other apples. For a good crop it needs two other compatible apple trees nearby that can also pollinate each other, such as Discovery and James Grieve. In most built-up areas neighbouring gardens often provide this.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.