Apple (Malus) James Grieve Patio MM106

An early-season classic and RHS Award of Garden Merit holder, 'James Grieve' is loved for its reliable, heavy crops and versatile fruit — sharp enough for cooking when picked early, mellowing to a sweet, juicy eating apple if left a little longer. Grown on the semi-vigorous MM106 rootstock, this is a larger, more robust tree than the dwarfing rootstocks typically used for patio growing, reaching around 3.5–4m in height and spread — best suited to a large permanent container or open ground rather than a compact patio pot.

Pink blossom with useful frost resistance appears in May, followed by yellow-green fruit speckled and striped with orange-red. The flesh is crisp to melting, with a delicate, juicy flavour, and cooks down while keeping its shape. Harvest from September, with a season of use running into October and a little beyond — though the fruit does bruise easily, so it's best handled with care.

'James Grieve' is partially self-fertile and will produce fruit alone, though yields improve significantly with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 3) or an adjacent group (2 or 4). MM106 tolerates a wide range of soils and generally doesn't need permanent staking once established, though it takes a little longer to come into fruit than more dwarfing rootstocks — usually 4–5 years.

Plant in full sun or partial shade 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.