Stark's Earliest apple trees

(Scarlet Pimpernel, Stark Earliest, Widow's Friend)

• Check pollinators >

• Picking season: Very early
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Flowering group: 2

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.

Stark's Earliest organic apple trees for sale

Next deliveries: December 2026

• 11 yeartree on M9 rootstock27.75€
  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 rootstock27.75€
  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.

Stark's Earliest characteristics

• Is Stark's Earliest self-fertile?Not self-fertile
• What flowering group is Stark's Earliest?2
• What is the overall disease resistance of Stark's Earliest?Average
• Picking periodearly Julymid-July
• What season do you pick Stark's Earliest?Very early
• How long can you keep Stark's Earliest in a fridge?Does not keep
• Food usesEating fresh

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  GoldRush
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• 
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