Ashmead's Kernel apple

Ashmead's Kernel identification images

USDA identification images for Ashmead's Kernel

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.

Visitor reviews

• 21 Nov 2020  GuyEAST MIDLANDS, United Kingdom

  grown on M25 for 25 years. First 10 years it cropped alternate years. Since then, big crops every year of large apples with no other pollinators close at hand. Superb flavour, store well and if well thinned, good looking. Not sure why so negative as its flavour alone makes it my top apple and the yield and ease of growth is top class.
• 24 Oct 2020  RavenWA, United States

  I had never heard of this apple. I purchased two at my local farmer's market i the organic section. INCREDIBLE. This is an apple that tastes like apples should. I don't detect any 'pear' flavor, as others have noted. It's tart and crisp. The apple isn't the prettiest, but I don't care a lick about appearance. We all know the pretty apples, like Red Delicious, are tasteless and mealy. I'm an instant fan of Ashmead Kernel.
• 08 Nov 2019  Bill TaylorLANCASHIRE, United Kingdom

  I think the Description is a little unkind re looks, but bang on re the flavour. Planted a tree on my allotment 5 years age, had nothing for first 3 years, a few last year and literally hundreds this year. Picked some in late September when other varieties were ready, but these clearly were not- but I've stored them for cooking. Its now early November and the dozens remaining have turned redder. I've been trying one a week and they just get better, so now we are in to frosts I'm planning to pick the rest and hopefully they will store well into the new year. They are crisp, juicy and do have something aromatic (pear drops isn't quite it) when they are riper. Flavours may develop in storage.
• 08 Oct 2017  GeorgePOWYS, United Kingdom

  We must be very lucky, at 300 metres high in Wales, but of seven varieties, all chosen as pre 1900, this was the first cropper after planting and is prolific and reliable!
• 02 Dec 2015  Carter WilkieMASSACHUSETTS, United States

  What an apple. Perhaps the best flavor I've tasted in December. Skin has the dullness of antique brass, with a splash of orange red on the sunny side, like faded red paint on metal. A beauty to see and unforgettable to eat.
• 31 Oct 2015  Lynda and MichaelPEMBROKESHIRE, United Kingdom

  We have two of these trees, the second planted by mistake as it was incorrectly labelled, both both less than 8 years old. They have cropped well the last 2 years and stored well last winter - we ate the last few in March, a bit wizened but still edible, no spraying involved. We wouldn't describe them as 'lumpy or misshapen' though they are a little dull. The flavour is excellent and they are crisp and juicy.
• 20 Oct 2015  MikeMASSACHUSETTS, United States

  Bought at Scott Farm in Vermont. An amazing apple. Great texture, juicy, pear flavors.
• 29 Sep 2015  Lori DolanNY, United States

  Ate this apple from Locust Growers NY yesterday 9/28. Bought at Union Square Greenmarket, NYC. Firm, juicy, delicious flavor. Skin seems thinner than previous fruit, a positive. Super eating apple, will bake with it soon and report.
• 27 Mar 2015  SethVERMONT, United States

  This is an amazing apple! It is bursting with a wild array of glorious flavors! It is, next to Wickson, one of the best apples that I have ever tasted. Thankfully, mine should be producing in the next year or so, because only getting them at apple tastings is just not enough!
• 03 Jan 2015  Bill Barker And Sharon CherryCHERRYLEATHER@GOOGLEMAIL.COM, United Kingdom

  Ashmead's went into store early at the beginning October.We still have some left, no trace of bitter pit having sprayed with Calcium Nitrate until three weeks before harvest.The flavour of this variety remains unsurpassed.
• 03 Dec 2013  NealGLASGOW, United Kingdom

  Two years ago I planted 20 apple trees beside where we're going to build a house in Northern Ireland. I've been taking the blossom off to encourage them to establish. When I was back in early November there was a single apple on one of the trees. It was delicious. Sweet and sharp and crisp. I had to look up my planting map to see what variety it was - Ashmead's Kernel. Delighted with it. Hope it is well established and fruiting well by the time we move back. Quite different from any other apple I've had. Very pleased I planted this variety.
• 21 Nov 2013  Lori DolanNY, United States

  Just bought the last four Ashmead's of the season today from Samascott Orchards at the NYC Greenmarket. This apple is by far my favorite. Tart, juicy, slightly sweet, crisp, complex with earthy undertones. Have not cooked with it yet, maybe next year. Please, Empire State growers, plant some Ashmead's Kernel.
• 15 Nov 2013  JaneSOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom

  Just scrumped a load of these from the university garden. Very heavy crop, windfallen in mid-November and absolutely delicious! I just hope we can eat them quickly enough.
• 27 Nov 2011  Paul CollinsWILTSHIRE, United States

  I grow one tree as a cordon along with a few other varieties. The flavour can be just amazing but some years it is very ordinary. I bears a small crop-fine for my own needs but rarely do we get any to store for long as they get eaten! Bitter pit can affect most of the crop but this year (2011) was not a problem. If you can get one, do so!
• 20 Nov 2011  E.ScottDEVON, United Kingdom

  I've just eaten Ashmead's Kernel and Orlean's Reinette from Wells market and the former is delicious, russety texture and splendid flavour. They are large and red too unlike previous ones I've tried. I'm keen to buy a tree now. Orleans Reinette are very similar looking but nowhere near as much flavour. It's been a very dry summer here, which mast have had an impact of some kind.
• 31 Aug 2011  P. SeburnNW VA, United States

  Yes, I grow Ashmead's in VA (one tree from Vintage Virginia apples). Kind of a gangly tree (hard to spray, so I often skip it), fairly bug and disease resistant, produces a moderate amount of small apples that are tart but then improve after storage. Doubt I'll ever have more than one tree.
• 07 Aug 2011  Dan WomblesIL, United States

  Ann, check out http://www.vintagevirginiaapples.com/ They propagate Ashmeads
• 05 Aug 2011  Ann RibsteinVA, United States

  Has anyone grown Ashmeades in Virginia? We used to get pick-your-own from a place that has long since plowed the trees under in favor of wine grapes. We planted two trees of our own but neglected them and now want to try to revive them--but blights and bugs are so bad here that we may not have anything to taste once they are ripe.
• 11 Nov 2010  Dave LiezenWASHINGTON, United States

  Picked a tiny crop 9 October; Brix 15. Ate another today: fantastic, complex flavor and a rugged tree! I expect to graft a number of apples around the yard, but this tree will remain a single variety. Just can't get too many of these.
• 10 Oct 2010  Chris LedgerwoodWA, United States

  I have five Ashmead's Kernel semi-dwarfs in my small orchard in the Northwest corner of Washington State. They appear to be more disease-free than many of other varieties I have planted. The taste is wonderful when picked ripe off the tree (the flavor is hard to describe... very sweet and somewhat nutty), This russet-like apple also makes a great tasting cider, either sweet or hard.
• 30 Sep 2010  RosemaryPEMBROKESHIRE, United Kingdom

  I struggle a bit with my Ashmead's Kernel - I think I have yet to experience the rumoured flavour! Shy bearing and bitter pit don't help and I am not sure when to pick it - so far the ones I have kept look in pretty good condiiton but don't tastle of much. Big healthy crop this year though so cross your fingers for me!
• 09 Sep 2010  N. BuckCAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom

  Mike I also grow Ashmead's Kernel (MM106 - bush). It suffers severely from bitter pit, which ruins a lot of the fruit. Light crops always make bitter pit worse - and Ashmead's Kernel certainly suffers from light crops to exacerbate the problem. Mine is very erratic cropping and crops are never spectacular. Blossom is attractive though. Mine gets a trace of canker from time to time, but no problems with mildew and although leaves get some scab in wet years, the fruits are usually fine. It is not especially troubled with pests. A nursery that is fairly local to me uses M9 rootstock for their Ashmead's Kernel, to try to reduce the bitter pit. I think that Ashmead's Kernel is best left to grow and crop as it pleases, with as little pruning as possible (which results in a rather large tree). Until the tree is up to full size, I would consider any decent fruits as a lucky bonus.
• 08 Sep 2010  Mike TigheNORFOLK, United Kingdom

  Great apple but mine is so far a shy bearer and fruit is poor quality - all a bit scabby plus bitter pip. Other varieties in my orchard are excellent this year. However, I grafted this tree onto a healthy half standard Bramley Seedling (had too many !) about 4 years ago. Lots of healthy leaf growth and not much fruit. I did the same with Egremont russet and this has done fantastically well. Any ideas to sort shy bearing ?
• 04 Aug 2010  JeanSOMERSET, United Kingdom

  This year's batch of Ashmead Kernel are awful, mis-shapen and split and disease ridden - normally they are so reliable so I'm not sure what's happened to cause this. On the other hand, Laxton's Superb here which is usually a delicious juicer but scabby mess is pristine for the first time in ages. Weather related in both cases, I'm sure
• 19 Sep 2009  ThomasUnited Kingdom

  Being an Ashmead myself, I have a certain bias toward this apple. There are rumours that the Dr Ashmead of Gloucester who reportedly cultivated this apple is an ancestor of ours. This year our tree has a glut of fruit and we'll probably end up with a lot of chutney.
• 17 Sep 2009  MarySALISBURY, WILTS, United Kingdom

  I inherited a well established tree when we bought this house. It bears prolifically, with some large and some small fruit. I have found the tips for picking times very helpful, but should I pick them before the first frosts, or will they still keep even if there have been frosts before they are picked?
• 15 Sep 2009  John TurnerMERSEYSIDE, United Kingdom

  This is quite an apple. Great flavour and sophisticated aroma. I would say one of the best. I would ot pick until early October- even later if it is still dull coloured. The apple does ripen to a warm hued pink and the flavour sweetens. Stores until March. I think it is a shy producer- but our tree is only 6 years old and will yield 20-30 respectable fruits. I would strongly recommend it.
• 01 Sep 2009  CynthiaSAN FRANCISCO, CA, United States

  I just ate my very first -- delicious! It's rather early to pick them, I thinlk, as it was quite tart (which is what I prefer). The ones I bought were grown in northern California. How does the flavor develop as they remain on the tree -- do they get considerably sweeter?
• 22 Aug 2009  AlexandraWINCHESTER HANTS ENG, United Kingdom

  all I would like to know is when to pick the apples?!
• 04 Jul 2009  Dave LiezenWASHINGTON, United States

  I planted one of these just two years ago. It's growing nicely and I hope to get a crop next year. I purchased mine from Raintree Nursery in western Washington state. It came very hardy and bloomed immediately upon planting; naturally I stripped the blooms. Raintree has a wonderful website, their prices may be a bit higher than other outfits, but the rootstocks they use keep most of their trees to a height of 8 to 14 feet, depending upon variety and roostock chosen. Mine will top out at 12 feet. Just right.
• 21 Jun 2009  Steve AshWARBOROUGH, OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom

  I planted two Ashmead Kernel and two Orange Pippins (maidens) about four years ago, and this is the first year either of them have produced fruit! Very exciting, but the Ashmeads are much more resilient than the rust/blight ridden Pippins - is that usual?
• 19 Jun 2009  VaughnCAMBRIDGE, MA, United States

  ii've heard much praise for ashmead's kernel but have never found one. any recommendations for grocers in cambridge and surrounding towns (bike-accessible) carrying these during apple season?
• 04 Jun 2009  John SPDX, OR/USA, United States

  Try paper bags, plastic ziploc bags with bottoms cut out or footies for codling moth.
• 14 Dec 2008  Hilary SiebertPONTEVEDRA, Spain

  In my last comment about Ashmead I said the fruit got apple maggots--actually, their codling moths, but the result is the same. The Cox I have are also impossible to raise simply because of the moth larvae--which I can control, I suppose, but the other varieties I like Melrose, Red Delicious, and other hardly are affected.
• 14 Dec 2008  Hilary SiebertPONTEVEDRA, Spain

  The flavor is very good but since apples are very sensitive to cultural conditions I have to say that this one is a real pain to grow in this part of northern Spain simply because it attracts all the apple maggots in the area. Interestingly the bearing problem is not apparant here, it bears fine and the size is even larger than the normal size I´ve read about. Any suggestions for the apple maggots? The Melrose trees I have are almost pest-free.
• 14 Dec 2008  Robb Mc CrackenIDAHO, United States

  Ashmeads appears to sometimes be a shy bearer. I suggest getting a full soil test. I feed mine heavliy, seems to help. Have you had any scab on it? What are your other top disease resistant vasrieties? Thanks
• 07 Oct 2008  Julia MarshLUTON, BEDFORSHIRE, United Kingdom

  I have planted a 5ft tree in my garden this spring, on its own, one branch grew blossom, then over the summer the leaves have got some sort of brown blight on them. Will this tree be ok? Its growing in chalky soil, and I have never grown or owned an apple tree before help...!
• 01 Oct 2008  Jim JacksonWAKEFIELD, United Kingdom

  I think Steve Harris picked his Ashmead Kernel Apples far too early. I pick them at the end of October at the earliest. Often leaving many on the tree until end of November - if the weather permits. They take a long time to ripen fully.
• 27 Sep 2008  CathSCOTLAND, United Kingdom

  I have lived with this apple variety in my garden for nearly twenty five years without knowing it until I took one along to an apple day in Kellie Castle, Fife for identification by the experts today. Mine seems to have bigger fruit than many of this variety. Yes, the flavour is lovely and it improves for eating later in the year. The tree was well established when we bought the house and I wonder how old it is. Our house is 250 years old but I don't suppose the tree is that old!
• 14 Sep 2008  RikardoWISCONSIN, United States

  Would like to hear from others growing this apple. I have two trees, both over 12 years old and both extremely shy at bearing.Just can't get them to put out much of a crop. A shame as it is such a terrific apple. Often has bitter pit, a consequence of too little (or too much) calcium. I grow 54 varieties, and consider this one one of my top three or four for flavor.
• 08 Apr 2008  GrahamASHBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom

  By far my favourite apple - but not until December. Not only do I like them, but nothing else seems to. Birds hardly peck them and the few damaged apples rarely go mouldy. I'm just eating the last of my stored crop (stored in a plastic bin in the shed) now, in April (I have to admit, they're a bit past their best but they were perfect up to about 2 weeks ago). Plus, the tree seems tolerant of canker; a big problem on a wet North facing slope at 600ft in Derbyshire. A great apple.
• 06 Nov 2007  Peter HartKENT, United Kingdom

  Our local farm shop had some for sale for a couple of weeks and I think it's the best apple I've tasted. I,m very fond of Coxs straight off the tree but I think these beat even them. They stay crisp and have just the right combination of tart and sweetness for me. Hence the reason I'm on this sight finding out more about them.
• 05 Nov 2007  Richard KaskeskiBRIMFIELD, United States

  I have one of these trees that came with the house and it is wonderful.A very heavy producer and just delicious. I leave them on the tree until a golden color and they are ready. I picked 6 bushels from my 25 year old tree this year. willing to share! thanks Rich.
• 11 Oct 2007  John JenkinsNORTHAMPTON, United Kingdom

  We visited the apple festival at Erddig last weekend (National Trust house and gardens near Wrexham). They were selling this variety, grown on site, and doing a very good trade. First time I've had them - just my sort of apple. But rest of my family aren't keen !
• 23 Sep 2007  Steve HarrisGLOUCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom

  They are sometimes available from farmer's markets around here. I have a tree in my garden and harvested about 40 this afternoon. You are supposed to store for 1 month before they are at their prime. Currently they are rather hard and acid.
• 19 Sep 2007  HenryMARYLAND, United States

  Agreed. The best apple I have ever tasted. I first tried them in 1996 from a friends orchard. That property has been sold and I have been looking for a source ever since. THE BEST APPLE.

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Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
  United States
  Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale >>
• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
  United Kingdom
  Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale >>
• Cummins Nursery
  United States  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Ashmead's Kernel:

United States

• California

  • Arroyo Community Garden, Petaluma
  • The Apple Farm -- Bates & Schmitt, Philo

• Colorado

  • Ela Family Farms, Hotchkiss

• Connecticut

  • Seek No Further Orchard, Hebron

• Georgia

  • Freedom Farms - Apple & Peach Orchard, Chatsworth

• Illinois

  • Apples On Oak, Lockport

• Indiana

  • Bright Meadows Orchard, Lawrenceburg
  • Doud's Countyline Orchard, Wabash

• Iowa

  • Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City

• Maine

  • Plowshares Community Farm, Gorham
  • Tiny Orchards, Saco

• Michigan

  • Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester
  • Christmas Cove Farm, Northport        *** Feature Orchard ***
  • KlineKrest USDA Certified Organic Produce Farm, Lyons
  • Phillips Orchards & Cider Mill, Saint Johns

• Minnesota

  • Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley

• Montana

  • Big Mountain Fruitworks / Big Mountain Ciderworks, Kalispell

• New Hampshire

  • Alyson's Apple Orchard, Walpole
  • Gould Hill Farm, Contoocook

• New York

  • Albany Apple Guy:Purveyor of Rare & Exotic Apples, Castleton
  • Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg
  • Indian Ladder Farms Inc., Altamont

• Washington

  • Muscle and Arm Farm, Freeland
  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Cider House of Wisconsin, McFarland
  • Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove

United Kingdom

• England - midlands

  • Meynell Langley Trials Gardens, Derby
  • The Vyne, Basingstoke
  • Cotteridge Community Orchard, Birmingham
  • Walsgrove Farm, Worcester

• England - north

  • Six Nine Orchard, Prudhoe

• England - south-east

  • Lavenham Brook Vineyard and Orchard, Sudbury

• England - south-west

  • Trevalon Organic Cooperative, Liskeard
  • Charlton Orchards, Taunton
  • West Bradley Orchards, Glastonbury

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Apple Luscious Organic Orchards, Salt Spring Island
  • Dragonfly Farm, Salt Spring Island
  • Fruit Forest Certified Organic Farm, Cobble Hill
  • Ravenskill Orchards, Gabriola Island
  • Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island

• Ontario

  • O'Keefe Grange, Dobbinton

References

• Apples for the 21st Century
  Author: Manhart
  Listed as Ashmead
• Fruit Expert
  Author: Hessayon
• Some Antique Apples for Modern Orchards, (2008)
  Author: Merwin I.A.