{"product_id":"apple-malus-winter-gem-cordon-m9","title":"Apple (Malus) Winter Gem Cordon M9","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBred in Kent by Hugh Ermen from 'Grimes Golden' and 'Cox's Orange Pippin', 'Winter Gem' consistently wins flavour contests and offers all the aromatic complexity of a Cox in a strong, reliable tree. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePink and white blossom appears in spring, followed by handsome, pink-flushed fruit with greenish-yellow skin striped red. The pale cream flesh is crisp, juicy, and rich in flavour. Harvest from mid-October, with the fruit storing beautifully — often right through to mid-spring, making it a real winter treat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e'Winter Gem' is self-sterile, so a pollination partner is essential — choose a variety in the same period (Group 2 or 3, depending on source) or an adjacent group — worth bearing in mind if you're planting a single cordon rather than a mixed row. It's worth noting this variety can be a little shy to crop, so good pollination really matters for a heavy harvest; it also has strong resistance to bitter pit, though some susceptibility to scab. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eEach tree is hand-selected before dispatch. Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pengelly Garden Centre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58794130833782,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/WinterGem1.jpg?v=1790081659","url":"https:\/\/www.pengellygardencentre.co.uk\/products\/apple-malus-winter-gem-cordon-m9","provider":"PengellyGardenCentre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}