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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Ashmead's Kernel Apple tree

Owner: Jeff

Location:  Leicester, United Kingdom

Age:Planted in about 2011
Age of this tree:14 years
Rootstock:M27
Pruning:Took off top 30cm after planting.
Tree form:Central leader (widest at bottom)
Height:Up to 6ft / 2m
Cropping:Not specified
Growth:Not specified
Herbicides:Manual treatment (hoeing and weeding)
Pesticides:Un-treated
Local pests:As yet unknown!

Owner's comments

Planted this one year old, bare rooted Maiden on 2011-02-09, tied to a permanent wooden stake. It is about 6 ft from a Queen Cox, planted the same day, and very close to an old Discovery apple tree in my neighbour's garden. I pruned the top 30 cm (approx), as described in the detailed instructions from Orange Pippin. Mulched with 1" of wood chippings made by a chainsaw. Flowering started on 2011-04-21, and 90% of the flowers were open by 2011-04-24. There are ten clusters of flowers on the main trunk, with 6 or 7 flowers in each. The flower buds are pink and the large flowers are white with a hint of pink when fully open. Removed all fruit shortly after flowering ended to allow tree to develop better roots, rather than spend energy fruiting.

Season records for this tree

  • 2013

    Spring blossom: 24 May
    Spring was late, and the cold lasted well into April.
  • 2012

    Spring blossom: 20 May
    Warm and sunny March, early April, followed by a very wet and cold April, continuing into May. Removed most of the flowers. Very bad season - no fruit.
  • 2011

    Spring blossom: 23 April
    Planted as a 1 year old Maiden on M27 rootstock on 2011-02-09. Removed all flowers.

Ashmead's Kernel blossom

Ashmead's Kernel blossom

Copyright: Jeff

Uploaded: 25 Apr 2011

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Newly planted Ashmead's Kernel apple tree

Newly planted Ashmead's Kernel apple tree

Copyright: Jeff

Uploaded: 25 Apr 2011

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