Apple (Malus) Discovery Corden M9

One of Britain's best-loved early apples, raised from a Worcester Pearmain seedling by George Dummer, an Essex fruit farm worker, around 1949, and launched commercially in 1962. Holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit and now the most successful early-season apple variety in the UK.

Fruit is small to medium, round and slightly flattened, with a brilliant, shiny red skin over pale cream flesh. The flavour is sweet-sharp with a delightful hint of strawberry — best enjoyed fresh, straight from the tree, as it doesn't keep for more than a week or so (though any excess makes wonderful pink apple juice).

A spur-bearer, making it well suited to trained forms. Flowers in mid-season (pollination group 3) and is partially self-fertile, though it will crop far better with a pollinating partner nearby (ideally group 2, 3 or 4). Very hardy, disease-resistant, and a reliable, heavy cropper. Picked from mid-August through to mid-September.

Grown as a cordon on dwarfing M9 rootstock, reaching approximately 2–2.5m in height when trained on a single stem — a lovely way to grow this early favourite in a smaller garden, along a wall or fence.

Supplied as a healthy, well-rooted tree, ready to establish in its new home. One of the very first apples of the season — crisp, colourful, and full of flavour.