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

Kingston Black apple

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Kingston Black

Kingston Black is a small dark red apple, formerly grown in the West Country cider-producing regions of England, and now a popular variety amongst cider enthusiasts.  However it is not the easiest of varieties to grow, generally considered a poor cropper and somewhat prone to disease.

English cider is traditionally produced using blends of Sweet, Bittersweet, Sharp, and Bittersharp juice - Kingston Black produces one of the best bittersharp juices.  Hogg, writing at the end of the 19th century refers to Kingston Black as "the most valuable cider apple", and Kingston Black is widely believed to have one of the best-flavoured juices.

It is worth noting that the word "cider" has quite different meanings in the UK and North America.  In North America fresh apple juice is known as "cider", whereas in England "cider" means fermented apple juice - which is known as "hard cider" in the USA.  Thus most traditional English "cider" apples cannot be eaten fresh, nor is their juice necessarily palatable when freshly pressed - they are grown solely for the production of hard cider.

Kingston Black apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Kingston Black
  • Kingston Black

USDA identification images for Kingston Black

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    See also


    Visitor reviews

    • 31 Oct 2016  WILTSHIRE, United Kingdom
      Can't understand the reputation this has as a difficult tree. It is the healthiest and most reliable apple tree in my orchard. Always gives a good crop, even in "off" biennial years, and no disease of any kind, in a very wet, clay soil.
    • 19 Aug 2016  Ireland
      I have two Kingston Blacks on MM106. Contrary to most accounts, mine are very heavy croppers and completely scab and canker-free. I'm looking forward to making some single varietal cider this autumn and am going to plant another four trees - grafted them last spring.
    • 13 Mar 2015  WASHINGTON, United States
      Hard, sweet, tough, full flavored, right up there with Staymen Winesap but still not the range. Have it on p-22 which doesn't grow enough!
    • 13 Mar 2015  WASHINGTON, United States
      Hard, sweet, tough, full flavored, right up there with Staymen Winesap but still not the range. Have it on p-22 which doesn't grow enough!

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    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2020 season

    • 28th April  2020  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2017 season

    • 12th May  2017  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 21st May  2016  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom
    • May  2016  - tree owned by John in Malmesbury, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 9th May  2015  - tree owned by Jon in Brigg, United Kingdom
    • 2nd March  2015  - tree owned by Michael in Glen Rock, United States

    2014 season

    • 20th May  2014  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 16th May  2014  - tree owned by Mike in Glen Rock, United States
    • 12th May  2014  - tree owned by Mark in Leyburn, United Kingdom
    • 10th May  2014  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom
    • 10th May  2014  - tree owned by Nick in North Curry, United Kingdom
    • 7th May  2014  - tree owned by John in Malmesbury, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 29th May  2013  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom
    • 23rd May  2013  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 21st May  2012  - tree owned by Eric in Bristol, United Kingdom
    • 15th May  2012  - tree owned by Mike in Glen Rock, United States
    • 9th May  2012  - tree owned by James in Estacada, United States

    2011 season

    • 21st April  2011  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom

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    Harvest records for this variety

    2019 season

    • 1st week October  2019  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2018 season

    • 3rd week September  2018  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2017 season

    • 3rd week September  2017  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2016 season

    • 1st week October  2016  - tree owned by John in Malmesbury, United Kingdom
    • 1st week September  2016  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

    2014 season

    • 4th week September  2014  - tree owned by John in Malmesbury, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 3rd week September  2013  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 3rd week October  2012  - tree owned by James in Estacada, United States

    2011 season

    • 2nd week October  2011  - tree owned by Bruce in Taunton, United Kingdom
    • 1st week September  2011  - tree owned by Mark in Palo Alto, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Originates from: Kingston, near Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 19th century
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1999-096

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
    • Fruit colour: Crimson
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Flowering duration: Average (2-3 weeks)
    • Fruit size: Average
    • Fruit shape: Flat-round

    Using

    • Picking season: Very late
    • Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Juice style: Bittersharp (cider)
    • Cropping: Light
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Hard cider
    • Picking month: November
    • Picking period: early November
    • Specific gravity: 1061
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Experienced
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Precocity: Slow to start bearing
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Not-suitable
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 5 (-29C)
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Poor
    • Canker: Some susceptibility
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some susceptibility
    • Cedar apple rust: Some susceptibility

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Kingston Black apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Kingston Black:

    United States


    United Kingdom


    Canada


    Australia




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