Kidd's Orange Red apple trees

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• Check pollinators >

• Picking season: Late
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Flowering group: 3

Kidd's Orange Red is one of the select band of apple varieties which can truly be said to rival the definitive Cox's Orange Pippin for flavour. It is primarily a sweet apple, but unlike most sweet apples it has a rich complexity to the flavours too. Kidd's Orange Red is fairly crisp but also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour.

Kidd's Orange Red is a popular variety in English gardens, but it was actually raised in New Zealand at the start of the 20th century by J.H. Kidd, who was an enthusiast of the English Cox's Orange Pippin apple which is one of the parents of Kidd's Orange Red.

The tree grows attractively, and the crimson pink blossom is a particular feature - it has a rose-like scent too.

Although primarily an apple for eating fresh, Kidd's Orange Red also produces a high quality sweet apple juice, with a pleasing thick texture.

Kidd's Orange Red 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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• 41 yeartree on Bittenfelder rootstock26.50€
  Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root
  

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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

Kidd's Orange Red is very easy to grow, generally problem-free, and makes an excellent garden variety for most regions, including cool temperate climates and warmer climates. It makes a good alternative to Cox's Orange Pippin in warmer climates.

It forms an attractive-looking tree with long branches which grow vertically when the tree is young but then bend over with fruit as the tree comes into bearing.

It is not a heavy-cropper, although cropping is reliable. Fruit size can be on the small size but this can be corrected by moderate thinning as the fruitlets start to form.

Kidd's Orange Red is a good choice if you are not keen on pruning, as its branches and fruiting spurs do not become congested as the tree ages.

History

Kidd's Orange Red was developed in the 1920s by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd. It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Delicious.

Kidd's Orange Red characteristics

• Attractive featuresAttractive flowersScented flowers
• What level of gardening skill is needed to grow Kidd's Orange Red?Beginner
• Is Kidd's Orange Red self-fertile?Not self-fertile
• What flowering group is Kidd's Orange Red?3
• What is the overall disease resistance of Kidd's Orange Red?Average - Not usually troubled by scab or mildew
• Picking periodmid-October
• What season do you pick Kidd's Orange Red?Late
• How long can you keep Kidd's Orange Red in a fridge?1-2 months - Will keep in a cold store until Christmas
• Food usesEating freshJuice
• USDA cold hardyZone 4 (-34C)
• Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
• Where does Kidd's Orange Red originate from?New Zealand
• When was Kidd's Orange Red first introduced?1900 - 1949
• What colour is the blossom of Kidd's Orange Red?Pink - dark
• Fruit colourOrange / Red

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