Apple (Malus) Winter Gem M26

Bred 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. 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.

Pink 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.

'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. 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. 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.