Autumn 2024 planting seasonPre-order now for EU delivery December 2024 - March 2025

Ashmead's Kernel apple trees

Malus domestica
Ashmead's Kernel
Ashmead's Kernel has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritAshmead's Kernel is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late October
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 4

Ashmeads Kernel is a very old traditional English russet apple. It remains popular for its distinctive pear-like flavour which is quite different from most other apple varieties.

As well as eating fresh it can also be used for cooking, or sliced in savoury salads, and it keeps very well in a cold store.

Ashmead's Kernel is also prized for its juice, which adds an interesting fruity component to cider blends.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Ashmead's Kernel organic apple trees for sale


  • 11 yeartree on M9 rootstock23.25€
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 21 yeartree on M116 rootstock23.95€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 31 yeartree on MM111 rootstock23.25€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 41 yeartree on Bittenfelder rootstock23.25€
    Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
EU delivery countries
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
Delivery chargesClick here to view estimated delivery charges.

Growing and Training

Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, and perhaps because it is such an ancient variety, it is relatively disease resistant. It can be a light cropper and this usually caused by poor pollination at blossom time - planting another late-flowering apple tree or crab-apple tree nearby is a good idea.


History

Ashmeads Kernel originated in England in the 1700s.


Ashmead's Kernel characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group4
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Picking seasonLate - October
  • Season of use3 months or more - keeps well
  • Food usesEating freshJuice
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 4 (-34C)
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1700 - 1749
  • Fruit colourRusset

Similar varieties

  • See also Cabarette
    Cabarette
    A traditional very-late season dessert apple, found in northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • See also Cox's Orange Pippin
    Cox's Orange Pippin
    Cox is widely acknowledged as having the best flavour of any apple variety.
  • See also GoldRush
    GoldRush
    A modern disease-resistant apple, like Golden Delicious but with a better tart/sweet balance. Good for eating fresh and juicing / cider.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2023.