Discovery apple trees

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• Check 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

Discovery organic apple trees for sale

Next deliveries: December 2026

• 11 yeartree on M9 rootstock26.50€
  Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  

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• 21 yeartree on M116 rootstock27.75€
  Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  

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• 31 yeartree on MM111 rootstock26.50€
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  

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Click here to view estimated delivery charges.

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If you do not hear from us by March you can contact us to pre-order for next autumn.

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 usually produces a lot of blossom and is generally a good pollinator of other apple varieties.

Discovery characteristics

• What level of gardening skill is needed to grow Discovery?Beginner
• Is Discovery self-fertile?Not self-fertile
• What flowering group is Discovery?3
• What is the overall disease resistance of Discovery?Good
• Picking periodmid-August
• What season do you pick Discovery?Early
• How long can you keep Discovery in a fridge?1 week
• Food usesEating freshJuice - One of the best early-season varieties for juicing
• USDA cold hardyZone 5 (-29C)
• Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Hot (>30C / 86F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
• Where does Discovery originate from?United Kingdom
• When was Discovery first introduced?1900 - 1949
• What colour is the blossom of Discovery?White
• Fruit colourRed

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