Apple (Malus) Saturn MM106

Bred by Dr Frank Alston and holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Saturn' was developed specifically for good disease resistance, making it a great choice for anyone growing more organically. Grafted onto the semi-vigorous MM106 rootstock, it makes a robust, well-anchored tree reaching around 4m in height and spread, suited to larger gardens or orchards.

Light pink blossom appears in spring, followed by medium-large fruit with lime-green skin almost entirely hidden under a striking dark red blush. The yellow flesh is crisp and juicy with a well-balanced sweet-sharp flavour. Harvest from early October, with the fruit storing for a few weeks, generally through to late winter, though it can have a tendency towards biennial bearing.

'Saturn' is self-fertile and will crop reliably alone, though it fruits best with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 2 or 3, depending on source) or an adjacent group. It was bred with strong mildew resistance in mind, though it's worth noting it isn't quite as resistant to scab, so it benefits from a reasonably open, airy position. 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 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.