Winter 2025 planting seasonPlease order soon, deliveries finish in February.

Discovery apple trees

Malus domestica
Discovery has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritDiscovery is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

Discovery is probably the most well-known early English apple variety, ripening in late August. It is very easy to grow, and has excellent natural disease resistance.

The apples have a brisk sharp flavour and in some years there is a hint of strawberry.

Discovery also excels as a variety for juicing, as it produces a very well-balanced sweet/sharp juice

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Discovery 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
EU delivery countries
  • Austria
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Growing and Training

Discovery is very easy to grow. Being an early-season apple, it can ripen in a short growing season and is therefore a good choice for northern climates. It is also good choice for growers in areas of high rainfall. Although a very "English" apple, Discovery is known to be very cold-hardy, and able to tolerate temperatures much lower than those usually found in the UK.

A characteristic of Discovery is that the tree will often drop quite a lot of apples near maturity. It's best to wait a bit longer if you can, rather than taking this as a cue to start picking.

Discovery is also one of the best varieties for organic growers or gardeners who do not want to spray their trees - it has excellent natural disease resistance. The apples are invariably clean with a good finish.


Discovery characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • Season of use1 week
  • Food usesEating freshJuice - One of the best early-season varieties for juicing
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Hot (>30C / 86F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Fruit colourRed

Similar varieties

  • See also Akane
    Akane
    Akane is an attractive early-season eating apple with a good pedigree and a sweet/sharp flavour.
  • 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.