Brown's Apple
Malus domestica Brown's Apple is a widely-grown traditional Devon cider apple variety, producing a bittersharp juice, primarily used in cider blends.
As well as being useful for cider production, Brown's Apple can be used as a cooker - it has a fruity sharp flavour.
Brown's Apple cider apple trees for sale
1-year bare-root
tree
on MM111 rootstock£35.75
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
Growing and Training
Brown's Apple originates from Staverton in Devon. As a result it makes a good choice for areas with mild damp climates, and has a good reputation for resistance to the fungal infections that often blight cider orchards.
Brown's flowers very late in the spring, and is a good pollinator of other late-flowering apple varieties since it typically produces a lot of blossom.
One of the key qualities of a good cider variety is cropping potential - and Brown's scores highly. It is a naturally vigorous tree and very heavy-cropping.
Recommended pollinators for Brown's Apple cider apple trees
Brown's Apple is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Brown's Apple.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
Comtesse de ParisComtesse de Paris can be considered as an improved Golden Hornet. It features the same white blossom and persistent yellow fruitlets, but grows with a better form.
Golden HornetMalus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
Somerset RedstreakAn English cider apple variety producing a very high-quality bittersweet juice.
Tremlett's BitterTremlett's Bitter is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
Yarlington MillYarlington Mill is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
History
Brown's Apple was raised at the Hill Nursery in Staverton, Devon, in the early 20th century.
Brown's Apple characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Fruit persistenceFruit drops when ripe
- Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
- Pollinating othersGood
- Pick seasonLate
- Picking monthOctober
- Picking periodmid-October
- Keeping2-3 weeks
- Food usesHard cider
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Fruit colourOrange / Red
You might also like these varieties
DabinettDabinett is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
Kingston BlackKingston Black is one of the premier English cider varieties and produces a bittersharp juice.
MichelinMichelin is a traditional French cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
Yarlington MillYarlington Mill is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
More about cider apple trees
In the west of England, and across the Channel in north-west France, there is a long tradition of brewing cider using dedicated apple varieties. These apples are usually full of tannins, which makes them too astringent for eating fresh ... but it is these unpaltable tannins which give the 'body' which is so essential in traditional cider.
If you are serious about making your own cider then you'll probably need quite a few cider trees. As a rule of thumb, you'll need about 2kg-3kg of apples to produce 1 litre of apple juice. A big old traditional cider apple tree might produce 80kg - 160kg of apples, while a more manageable semi-vigorous tree might give you up to 50kg of apples.
