Apple (Malus) Herefordshire Russet® M26

A modern russet with an excellent Cox-like flavour, 'Herefordshire Russet' is bred from 'Cox' and 'Golden Delicious' (or 'Idared', depending on source) and has quickly become a favourite for anyone who loves that classic nutty, aromatic taste. Grafted onto the semi-dwarfing M26 rootstock, it makes a compact, manageable tree reaching around 3m in height and spread, well suited to an average garden.

Pale pink blossom appears in May, followed by golden, extensively russeted fruit with crisp, juicy cream flesh and a rich, sweet, nutty flavour. Harvest in October, with the fruit storing well through to Christmas or into January.

'Herefordshire Russet' is partially self-fertile and will produce a decent crop alone, though it fruits best with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 3) or an adjacent group (2 or 4). It's a vigorous, reliable cropper — strong growth often means the fruit needs thinning to reach a good size. M26 typically needs staking for the first few years while the root system establishes, and trees usually begin cropping within a year or two.

Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil, and prune each winter to maintain an open, productive shape. As with all apple varieties, the pips contain small amounts of naturally occurring toxins, so they're best removed if the fruit is being used for cooking with children in mind.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch. Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.