Kingston Black cider apple trees

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• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 4
• Uses: Hard cider

Kingston Black is one of the premier English cider varieties and produces a bittersharp juice.

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Kingston Black cider apple trees for sale

Choose a size - Delivery in spring 2026.

• 1Dwarf, 1-year bare-root tree $39.95

  Mature height: 6ft-9ft after 10 years
  Dwarf rootstock
  

  Out of stock
  Sorry we have sold out for this season
• 2Semi-standard, 1-year bare-root tree $39.95

  Mature height: 10ft-16ft after 10 years
  MM.111 rootstock
  

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• 3Full-size, 1-year bare-root tree $39.95

  Mature height: 16ft-24ft after 10 years
  P.18 rootstock
  

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All about Kingston Black cider apple trees

Kingston Black is one of the definitive English hard cider apple varieties and produces a very high quality bittersharp juice.

It is one of the few English varieties that can be used without blending, to make a single-varietal cider.

Note that Kingston Black cannot be eaten fresh - it is grown solely for hard cider production.

How to grow

Kingston Black is not an easy variety to grow, in fact it is quite difficult. However it is widely planted for the simple reason that it can be used to produce one of the best quality single-varietal ciders, if not the best.

Kingston Black takes time to start bearing, and although this is less of an issue on dwarf rootstocks, the best quality fruit tends to come from older trees.

This is not usually a productive variety - there can often be a lot of tree and not many apples, although in some situations it produces heavily.

It is a bit susceptible to scab, although this is not likely to be a concern for the backyard grower.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Kingston Black takes its name from the the town of Kingston near Taunton in Somerset, the main cider-growing area of the UK. It is thought to have arisen in the 19th century.

Kingston Black characteristics

• Gardening skillExperienced
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group4
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Picking seasonVery late
• UsesHard cider
• Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
• General resistancePoor
• CankerSome susceptibility
• ScabSome susceptibility
• Cedar apple rustSome susceptibility
• Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Period of origin1850 - 1899
• Fruit colorCrimson