Apple (Malus) Spartan M26

A relative of the Canadian 'McIntosh', 'Spartan' is instantly recognisable for its distinctive ruby-maroon skin and unusual pink-tinged flesh — a real head-turner in the fruit bowl. 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 or a large patio container.

Pure white, cup-shaped blossom covers the tree over a long, generous flowering period in mid- to late spring, making it an excellent pollinator for other apple varieties nearby. This is followed by crisp, juicy, dark red fruit with a sweet, mellow flavour. Harvest from early October — the apples will happily hold on the tree for a week or two before picking — and they store well for several months if kept correctly.

'Spartan' is partially self-fertile and will crop reasonably alone, though it fruits better with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 3) or an adjacent group (2 or 4). It's a reliable, hardy variety, well suited to the UK climate, with good resistance to pests, diseases, and frost. 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.