Bramley 20
Bramley's Seedling is the definitive English "cooker". However it is an extremely vigorous variety, producing a tree that is substantially larger than all other apple varieties (only Blenheim Orange comes close).
Bramley 20 is a sport of Bramley's Seedling which happens to produce a tree which is naturally about 20% smaller, making it more suitable for the garden.
Bramley 20 is a valuable alternative to the regular Bramley's Seedling at both ends of the size scale. You can use it on dwarfing rootstocks, allowing you to grow Bramley apples in a small space. You can also use it on semi-vigorous rootstocks to produce a free-standing tree which is still not too large.
Another advantage is that if you are planting several apple trees together, you probably want them to be about the same mature size on any given rootstock. A regular Bramley's Seedling will become much larger than the others whereas Bramley 20 will have similar proportions to the other trees.
Although the tree is smaller, the apples are the same size as the regular Bramley's Seedling.
Bramley 20 apple trees for sale
RF1Spindlebush bare-root
tree
on M9 rootstock£44.00
Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
For growing a dwarf spindlebush apple tree, will need a permanent vertical stake.
Available next season
RF21-year bare-root
tree
on M26 rootstock£34.95
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Suitable for a semi-dwarf apple tree, a medium apple spindlebush, a medium apple fan or espalier, a large apple cordon or U-cordon.
Available next season
RF32-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
RF4Spindlebush bare-root
tree
on M116 rootstock£44.00
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Suitable for growing on as a spindlebush apple tree with a permanent stake.
Available next season
RF51-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
RF62-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
Growing and Training
Bramley 20 retains most of the horticultural characteristics of Bramley's Seedling, but produces a tree approximately 20% smaller on any given rootstock than Bramley's Seedling. It is quite easy to grow but like Bramley's Seedling it is a triploid and needs 2 separate compatible pollination partners although in most suburban environments you can usually assume there will be suitable varieties in the neighbourhood. See our page on Bramley's Seedling for more details of suitable pollination partners.
The pink-flushed white blossom is prolific and attractive. The fruit ripens late in the season, and stores very well.
Recommended pollinators for Bramley 20 apple trees
Bramley 20 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 Bramley 20.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
Arthur TurnerA mid-season cooking apple, producing a light yellow puree. Very attractive blossom.
EveresteEvereste is one of the most well-known crab-apples, featuring white blossom and red-yellow fruits.
FiestaFiesta (or Red Pippin) is one of the best Cox-style apples, easy to grow, with a good aromatic flavour.
GorgeousMalus Gorgeous has pink/white blossom and spherical cherry-like red fruits which are good for jelly.
GreensleevesGreensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
Howgate WonderHowgate Wonder is a large cooking apple which keeps well. Produces an excellent sharp juice.
James GrieveJames Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
KatyKaty is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
History
Bramley 20 was developed at the Long Ashton Research Station in the UK in the 1970s, and is a compact sport of Bramley's Seedling.
Bramley 20 characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Pick seasonLate
- Picking monthSeptember
- Picking periodearly October
- Keeping3 months or more
- Food usesCulinaryJuiceHard ciderTraditional cooker
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Fruit colourGreen / Red
You might also like these varieties
Arthur TurnerA mid-season cooking apple, producing a light yellow puree. Very attractive blossom.
Bramley's SeedlingBramley is the essential English cooking apple, famous for its rich sharp acidity.
Howgate WonderHowgate Wonder is a large cooking apple which keeps well. Produces an excellent sharp juice.
Lord DerbyLord Derby is a high-quality mid/late-season traditional English cooking apple, cooks to a chunky puree.
More about apple trees
We've all grown up with Bramley cookng apples so we take it for granted that cooking apples are different to eating apples, but, surprisingly, the UK is one of the few countries that makes such a distinction between apples for cooking and apples for eating fresh.
The main qualtities of a good "cooker" are size - the bigger the better - and acidity. Counter-intuitively, it is the acid which gives cooking apples their flavour. In contrast the flavour of sweet dessert apples collapses with cooking.
Cooking apples are usually easier to grow than eating apples, and will tolerate partial shade.
