Links and references
Apple reference information
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Apple Diversity
An excellent set of articles about apples from Nigel Deacon based in Leicestershire, UK.
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BBC Gardening pages
The main gardening page on the UK BBC website.
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Fruit Forum
The website and blog of Joan Morgan, author of the definitive New Book of Apples, and one of the best-known figures in the English fruit community.
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Fruit Wise
The story of a middle aged couple who dreamed of and planted a new orchard in Hampshire, UK. Lots of inspiration for anyone thinking of setting up their own orchard.
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Grandpap's Apple Orchard
The site of John Henderson, inspired by the orchard planted by his great grandfather. Lots of good links, and personal apple tasting notes.
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Irish Seed Saver Association
There is a long tradition of growing apples in Ireland and this website has a wide range of apple-related resources, including tree sales and planting advice.
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La Pomme.org
A very glossy site from French promotional organisation, Section Nationale Pomme. Particularly good for modern apple varieties, and production figures.
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Les pommes de nos Vergers
One of the most complete lists of apple varieties available, oriented towards French cultivars, but very informative and comprehensive.
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Midwest Apple Improvement Association
A very informative article on how to breed your own apple varieties using simple cross-pollination techniques.
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Midwest Fruit Explorers
In their own words "... crazy about the best tasting, most flavorful fruits that grow well here." Highlight of this website is Gene's backyard orchard - a lot of apple trees in a small space, and some very useful insight into the ultra-dwarf M27 rootstock.
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North American Fruit Explorers
A website by and for amateur fruit enthusiasts.
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Pomme et Pommier (apples and apple trees)
An extremely comprehensive list of French and international varieties assembled by French apple enthusiast Emmanuel Arbez.
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Ronnie Appleseed
This website by a UK apple enthusiast is particularly good for photos of apples.
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Royal Horticultural Society
The fruit section of the UK Royal Horticultural Society.
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The Apple Journal
A comprehensive and serious site about apples - but does not seem to have been be updated recently ... still a very good resource though.
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The Home Orchard Society
Particularly useful for its discussion forum.
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UK Institute of Food Research
Useful scientific information about apples.
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Wikipedia
Wikipedia resources about apples.
Apple tree nurseries
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Brogdale Farm
Brogdale Farm in Faversham, Kent, houses the UK National Fruit Collection.
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Keepers Nursery
Probably the largest range of apple and fruit trees available for sale online.
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Trees for Life
One of the longest established fruit and ornamental tree nurseries in the UK.
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Vintage Virginia Apples
Trees and fruit sales from Rural Ridge Orchard, Virginia.
Apples and orchards and where to buy apples
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Common Ground
The main website of Common Ground, the organisation which single-handedly kick-started interest in heritage apple varieties in the UK. Follow the links to Apple Day to find details of events in your area.
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East of England Apples and Orchards Project
Celebrating the orchard fruits of the East of England. Includes details of local orchards, and local heritage apple varieties.
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Elcho Castle Orchard, Scotland
The orchard is in the grounds of Elcho Castle, Rhynd, By Bridge of Earn PH2 8QQ and is managed by Historic Scotland (the Scottish equivalent of English Heritage). The orchard was planted in 1999 on an area that was the original orchard of the castle in its heyday in the 16th century. The 100 fruit trees planted have 31 different varieties of apple, 7 types of pear and 3 different plums. Although still quite a young orchard, we recently participated in the first Carse of Gowrie Orchard Festival. The orchard is open during the opening hours of the Elcho Castle - see website for details.
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Holy Root Farm
A small family-operated orchard and apiary in Pennsylvania.
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Michael Phillips - Grow Organic Apples
The website of Michael Phillips, author of the inspirational book "The Apple Grower" - essential reading for anyone thinking of setting up their own orchard.
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National Orchard Forum
Aims to promote the effectiveness of local orchards in the UK.
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Siloam Orchards
Based just outside Toronto, a large collection of heirloom and antique apples for sale in season.
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The Big Apple Association
The Big Apple Association organises annual apple events at Much Marcle in Herefordshire promoting local apples and pears, with an emphasis on preserving and promoting older traditional varieties. Check their website for details of the next event.
Articles
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Your top 10 apple varieties
The top 10 most popular apple descriptions on this website.
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Red coloration in apples
Short article on how to encourage red coloration in apples.
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Top 10 apple varieties for the garden
Hamid Habibi of Keepers Nursery to recommend 10 apple varieties which are easy to grow in the northern European garden.
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Top 10 dessert apple varieties for flavour
Our list of the best apple varieties for flavor.
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Supermarket apples
Helps you compare some of the apple varieties listed on this website with popular supermarket apple varieties.
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Book reviews
We hope the following book reviews will help you to find out more about apples, orchards, and growing your own trees.
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Apples for Christmas
An old article fromby Dr. W. E. Shewell-Cooper, reproduced from Hertfordshire Countryside magazine, December 1973.
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Fruit trees on their own roots
Hugh Ermen, one of the top modern UK apple breeders, discusses the techniques and advantages of growing fruit trees without rootstocks - on their own roots.
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Apple breeding at East Malling Research
East Malling Research (EMR) is the principal UK provider of top-class basic, strategic and applied horticultural research and development for the perennial crops sector. Launched in 2004, EMR builds on a 90-year history and world-class reputation for revolutionary research in this field.
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Orchard marketing
The potential for marketing produce from local orchards in Yorkshire and Humberside in the UK - a report on the viability of establishing supply chains to link local consumers and local orchards in the UK Countryside Stewardship Scheme.