Apple (Malus) Katy M26

Also known as 'Katja', 'Katy' is a striking early-season apple loved for its glossy, cricket-ball-red skin and reliable, heavy cropping. Grafted onto the semi-dwarfing M26 rootstock, it makes a compact, manageable tree reaching around 3m in height and spread, ideal for the average garden.

Attractive frost-tolerant blossom appears in May, followed by yellow-green fruit that ripens to a vivid red where the sun catches it. The flesh is firm, sharply sweet, and extra juicy — while not the richest flavour eaten fresh, it makes an excellent juice with a lovely hint of strawberry. Harvest from early September, though it's best enjoyed within about a month, as it doesn't store for long.

'Katy' is self-sterile, so a pollination partner is essential — choose a variety in the same period (Group 3) or an adjacent group (2 or 4). M26 typically needs staking for the first few years while the root system establishes, and trees usually begin cropping within a year or two, with substantial crops from year 3–4.

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.