Apple (Malus) TICKLED PINK Baya® Marisa MM106

Bred in Germany and introduced to the UK by Frank P Matthews in 2011, 'Tickled Pink' (sold botanically as 'Baya Marisa') is a genuinely eye-catching dual-purpose apple — dark red, speckled skin concealing striking reddish-pink flesh that holds its colour beautifully whether eaten fresh, cooked, or juiced. 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.

Deep pink blossom, set off nicely against purple-red new foliage, appears in April and May, followed by crisp, mildly aromatic fruit with a good balance of sharp and sweet. Harvest from September, with the fruit keeping for a couple of weeks — long enough to enjoy fresh, cooked into a colourful crumble, or pressed into a striking pink juice.

'Tickled Pink' 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), such as 'Discovery', 'Katy', or 'Granny Smith'. It has good disease resistance, including some tolerance to scab. 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.