Baldwin is an antique American apple which is still popular today. William Kendrick in his book the New American Orchardist (1833) states it is "recommended for extensive cultivation". The Victorian pomologist Robert Hogg stated Baldwin was "considered one of the finest apples in the Northern States of America".
It has the key element of a good apple - a balanced flavor (which is predominantly sweet). Baldwin is crisp to eat fresh, but is primarily an apple for the kitchen, where it keeps its shape when cooked. It also produces a sweet juice.
Delivery discounts. Prices are for individual trees excluding delivery. There is no minimum quantity but it is cost effective to order in multiples of 3 trees.
Delivery period: Trees are delivered in March and April. However it is best to order as soon as you can to ensure items are reserved for you. If you live in a warm zone (e.g. Southern California, Alabama etc.) Fall delivery is possible. More details on our spring shipping schedule by state.
*Mature heights: Height shown is the approximate height of the tree when mature (after 5-10 years), not the height when supplied. Actual mature heights may vary considerably dependent on your local conditions and training and pruning regime.
Stock availability: Items showing as 'sold out' will probably be available again next season. If you would like to reserve in advance use our enquiry form - this does not commit you to anything.
Baldwin is a triploid variety and cannot pollinate other varieties. It needs to be pollinated by another tree of a different variety nearby. You can either plant a self-fertile variety (which will pollinate itself and the Baldwin) or you can plant two pollination partners which must each be of different varieties and able to cross-pollinate each other as well as the Baldwin. If you need further advice on this just get in touch.
Our online pollination checker lists suitable pollination partners for this variety.
More advice about pollination.
As you might guess from the size of the apples and the vigor of the tree, Baldwin is a triploid variety - it needs two other (each different) compatible apple varieties nearby to pollinate it and will not pollinate other varieties. It is therefore not a good choice as your only apple tree, but works well as part of a small collection of apple trees.
William Kendrick, cited above, also noted Baldwin's tendency to fall into a cycle of biennial bearing. "The tree bears enormously every other year, and in the interval, occasionally a moderate crop." This is easily remedied by heavily thinning in the "on" year, and you can also prevent it happening by thinning the fruitlets after the blossom has finished if you notice a particularly heavy fruit set.
Baldwin is an apple for the cooler states, and is most at home in the climate of New England,
Planting instructions.
Pruning instructions.
Boston, Massachusetts, around 1750. Also known as Woodpecker.
