Apple (Malus) Red Falstaff® Cordon M9

A red sport of the popular 'Falstaff' and holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Red Falstaff' has become even more sought-after than its parent thanks to its richer, deeper colouring. Trained as a cordon on the dwarfing M9 rootstock, it's grown as a single stem at a 45-degree angle, making it an excellent way to fit several different apple varieties into a small space.

Pink blossom, with good frost resistance, appears in spring, followed by fruit with orange-red flushed skin over crisp, green-fleshed flesh. The flavour is well-balanced, fruity, crisp, and juicy, with plenty of scrunchy bite — equally good for eating fresh or juicing. Harvest from October, with the fruit storing for one to two months.

'Red Falstaff' is self-fertile, so it will crop well alone, though it fruits even better with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 2 or 3, depending on source) or an adjacent group — handy if you're planting a single cordon rather than a mixed row. It has a slightly weeping habit and is particularly well suited to colder, northern and eastern parts of the country, though it can be susceptible to scab in more humid areas. Cordons are typically spaced around 75cm–1m apart against a wire support system and need summer pruning to maintain their narrow shape. On M9, trees will need permanent staking or wire support throughout their life, but reward you with an early, compact cropper.

Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. 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.