Red Foxwhelp
Malus domestica Red Foxwhelp is a highly-regarded traditional English cider apple.
Cider produced from this variety often has a red tint and is capable of achieving a high alcohol content.
Red Foxwhelp cider apple trees for sale
1-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
Recommended pollinators for Red Foxwhelp cider apple trees
Red Foxwhelp 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 Red Foxwhelp.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
DabinettDabinett is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
Brown's AppleBrown's Apple is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a sharp juice.
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 DeliciousThe flavour of home-grown Golden Delicious is far better than its supermarket reputation.
Harry Masters JerseyHarry Masters Jersey is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
John DownieJohn Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
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.
History
The Foxwhelps are a group of old cider varieties originating from the traditional cider-growing areas of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
In 2016 DNA testing showed that Red Foxwhelp was identical to another well-known west country cider variety, Herefordshire Redstreak, which is known to have been raised from a pip by Lord Scudamore, who owned an estate in Herefordshire in the 17th century. It is possible that he obtained the pips from France, since he was the ambassador of King Charles 1 in France from about 1634.
Redstreak quickly became a very successful and popular cider variety, on account of its both attractive red juice, and its ability to produce cider with a high alcohol content.
This article by Lily Waite gives more insight into the Foxwhelp cider apples.
Red Foxwhelp characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Pick seasonVery late
- Picking periodmid-October
- Food usesHard cider
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1650 - 1699
- 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.
