Stark’s Earliest is ideal for beginning the apple harvest in late July or early August. Its attractive red apples are crisp and have remarkably good flavour for such an early cultivar. The self-fertile tree is convenient for smaller gardens. Fruit bruises easily and has very little storage ability, so it is best eaten directly from the tree or quickly pressed for juice.
Stark’s Earliest
Price range: 26,50 € through 59,75 €
As the name suggests, Stark’s Earliest will probably give you the first fresh apples of the year.
Pre-orders are open
No payment today. You are reserving your trees before the inventory in early August.
After inventory, we will confirm the available trees and send you a payment link.
Dispatch generally takes place from late November to February, depending on the weather and the progress of lifting the trees.
As it’s name suggests, Stark’s Earliest is one of the first varieties to ripen and will likely give you your first fresh apples of the season.
The fruit has a smooth skin with a strong sweet flavour which is unusual for an early apple as these are normally quite tart. The apples will be ripe for picking in July but like most early varieties they will not keep so it is best to pick them and eat them fresh from the tree. They can also be juiced.
Stark’s Earliest was introduced by the famous Stark Brothers Nursery in the USA, in the 1940s. It was grown commercially in Ireland for a while, where it is known as Widow’s Friend – perhaps on account of its reliable early-season cropping.
Variety characteristics
Origin and identity
Growth and adaptation
Pollination
Compatible pollinating varieties
For reliable fruit set, plant at least one variety with a compatible flowering period nearby. Flowering period: 2 - early.
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