Apple ‘Bramley’s Seedling’

Discovered growing in a Nottinghamshire garden in 1856, ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ is often described as the best of the cooking apples. Grown on a moderately vigorous rootstock (MM106), pale pink flowers are followed by large green, sometimes red flushed fruit that can be used from November to February.

Garden care: Plant as soon as conditions allow. Once planted keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise in spring and water regularly during hot, dry spells. The main prune should be done in the winter as long as it isn’t frosty or freezing. Take out the 3D’s (dead, dying and diseased wood) and create an open shape, then reduce the leaders back by a third. Aim to create an airy structure without any crisscrossing branches. In August you can do a summer prune by shortening any side shoots (or laterals) which are longer than 20cm back to three leaves. This will allow the sun to ripen the fruit and encourage more fruit buds. Make sure that the growth you’re cutting away feels firm to the touch.

Pollination information: This apple belongs to pollination group 3, but it is also a triploid (T) so you will need to plant two other different varieties of apples to guarantee cross-pollination, and a subsequent bumper crop. Ideally these should come from the same pollination group, however it is possible to use ones from group 2 and 4 as well.