Spring / Summer 2025Pre-orders will be open again from May. Deliveries will begin again from late November.
Roots2Fruits logo
Roots 2 Fruits
Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Ashmead's Kernel

Malus domestica
Ashmead's Kernel apples
Ashmead's Kernel has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritAshmead's Kernel is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Old-fashioned it may be but Ashmead's Kernal is still an apple to hold in high regard.  It has a very subtle russet appearance and can sometimes develop a delicate red flush over the golden undertones.

The flavour, which has hints of pear-drop, is very distinctive and can add a touch of class to a savoury salad.

Ashmead's can also be used for juicing and is also becoming increasingly popular in cider blends.


Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale

  • RF12-year bare-root tree on M9 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for growing a small bush-trained dwarf apple tree, will need a permanent stake.
    Available next season
  • RF22-year bare-root tree on M26 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a medium bush-trained semi-dwarf apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF31-year bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£34.95
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large free-standing apple tree, a half-standard apple tree, a large apple fan or espalier, or a pleached apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF42-year bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a large bush-trained free-standing apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF52-year half-standard bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£46.50
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a free-standing half-standard apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF61-year bare-root tree on M25 rootstock£35.75
    Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
    Can be trained on to produce a big 'standard' free-standing apple tree in a traditional apple orchard.
    Available next season

Growing and Training

Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, but can be a light cropper,  The fruit does however store well.


Recommended pollinators for Ashmead's Kernel apple trees

Ashmead's Kernel is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety. The following varieties are good pollinators for Ashmead's Kernel. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.

  • Pollinator Braeburn
    Braeburn
    Braeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
  • Pollinator Ellison's Orange
    Ellison's Orange
    Ellison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
  • Pollinator Gala
    Gala
    Gala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
  • Pollinator Golden Gem
    Golden Gem
    A traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.
  • Pollinator Golden Hornet
    Golden Hornet
    Malus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
  • Pollinator Harry Baker
    Harry Baker
    Malus Harry Baker is a popular crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits which are very good for crab-apple jelly.
  • Pollinator John Downie
    John Downie
    John Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
  • Pollinator King of the Pippins
    King of the Pippins
    A popular and versatile dual-purpose apple, widely grown in the Victorian era.

Ashmead's Kernel characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersPoor
  • Pick seasonLate - October
  • Picking periodmid-October
  • Keeping3 months or more - keeps well
  • Food usesEating freshJuice
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1700 - 1749
  • Fruit colourRusset

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet is the most popular English russet variety, and a good apple tree for the garden.
  • See also Herefordshire Russet
    Herefordshire Russet
    Herefordshire Russet is a modern russet apple variety, with an excellent strong Cox-like flavour.
  • See also Norfolk Royal Russet
    Norfolk Royal Russet
    Norfolk Royal Russet is a glorious golden-russet apple which tastes as good as it looks.
  • See also Saint Edmund's Russet
    Saint Edmund's Russet
    Not as well known as other russets, St. Edmund's Russet is nevertheless one of the best.

More about apple trees

Apples are very versatile, and all varieties can be eaten or used in the kitchen. However varieties specifically grown as eating apples tend to have the best flavours for eating raw.

The main thing to decide when choosing an eating apple is when you intend to eat the apples. Early season apples are typically ready in August, and generally don't keep very long. Mid-season apples are ripe in early September, while late-season apples start to become ripe in late September and October. Many of the late-season varieties can also be stored in a fridge or cold shed for several months into the winter.

Some apple varieties are self-fertile, but most are not. However in most areas of the UK you do not need to worry whether your apple trees are self-fertile or not, as there will be other apple trees in nearby gardens to help with pollination.


Pages you viewed