Ashmead's Kernel apple tree

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• Picking season: Late October
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 4
• Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

A versatile English 17th century russet apple, Ashmead's Kernel is noted for its distinctive pear-like flavor.

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Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale

• 1Small 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
  Mature height: 6ft-9ft after 10 years
  Dwarf rootstock
  

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• 2Medium 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
  Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
  G.890, G.969 rootstock
  

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• 3Large 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
  Mature height: 10ft-16ft after 10 years
  Semi-vigorous rootstock
  

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Next deliveries

Our inventory is up to date, you can pre-order now for the spring 2024 planting season.

Ashmeads Kernel is a very old traditional English russet apple. It remains popular for its distinctive pear-like flavor which is quite different from most other apple varieties.

Although often considered as a connoisseur's dessert apple, Ashmead's Kernel is actually quite versatile. It can be used for cooking, or sliced in savoury salads, and it keeps very well in a cold store.

Ashmead's Kernel is also becoming increasingly recognised for its juice, which adds an interesting fruity component to cider and hard cider blends.

How to grow

Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, and perhaps because it is such an ancient variety, it is relatively disease resistant. It can be a light cropper and this usually caused by poor pollination at blossom time - planting another late-flowering apple tree or crab-apple tree nearby is a good idea.

Ashmead's Kernel has good winter hardiness on the right rootstock. It is one of the best-adapted of the major English apple varieties to US climate zones, including the warmer zones of the south-east and southern California.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Originated in England in the 1700s, probably in Gloucestershire.

Ashmead's Kernel characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group4
• Pollinating othersPoor
• PloidyTriploid
• Bearing regularityRegular
• Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
• WildlifeRHS Plants for Pollinators
• Picking seasonLate - October
• UsesEating freshJuice
• CroppingLight
• Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more - keeps well
• Flavor style (apples)Aromatic
• Juice styleSweeterSweet (cider)
• General resistanceGood
• ScabSome resistance
• Cedar apple rustSome resistance
• MildewSome resistance
• Cold hardiness (USDA)(4) -30F / -34C(5) -20F / -29C(6) -10F / -23C(7) 0F / -18C(8) 10F / -12C(9) 20F / -7C(10) 30F / -1C
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Period of origin1700 - 1749
• Fruit colorRusset
• AwardsRHS AGM (current) - 1993

Similar varieties

• 
  Egremont Russet
  Egremont Russet is the most popular English russet variety, and a good apple tree for the garden.
• 
  Pine Golden Pippin
  A classic English russet apple from the Victorian era, notable for its pineapple-like flavor.
• 
  Saint Edmund's Russet
  Not as well known as other russets, St. Edmund's Russet is nevertheless one of the best.