(Scarlet Pimpernel, Stark Earliest, Widow's Friend)
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.
Contact us if you would like to go on the waiting list for next season.
Let me know when Stark's Earliest apple trees are back in stock.
If you do not hear from us by March you can contact us to pre-order for next autumn.
