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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Somerset Redstreak

Malus domestica
Somerset Redstreak apples
Somerset Redstreak is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

A traditional English cider apple producing a bittersweet juice. Somerset Redstreak is one of the main commercial cider varieties planted in England.

Somerset Redstreak cider apple trees for sale

  • RF12-year bare-root tree on M116 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Can be grown on as a large free-standing apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF21-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
  • RF31-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
  • RF41-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

Somerset Redstreak is slightly prone to biennial bearing, fruiting more heavily in alternate years. This can be controlled by heavier thinning in the "on" year.

It ripens slightly ahead of the main late-season cider varieties.


Recommended pollinators for Somerset Redstreak cider apple trees

Somerset Redstreak 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 Somerset Redstreak. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Brown's Apple
    Brown's Apple
    Brown's Apple is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a sharp juice.
  • Pollinator Comtesse de Paris
    Comtesse de Paris
    Comtesse 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.
  • Pollinator Golden Hornet
    Golden Hornet
    Malus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
  • Pollinator Red Foxwhelp
    Red Foxwhelp
    Red Foxwhelp also known as Herefordshire Redstreak, is an old English cider apple variety which produces a dull red bittersweet juice.
  • Pollinator Tremlett's Bitter
    Tremlett's Bitter
    Tremlett's Bitter is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
  • Pollinator Yarlington Mill
    Yarlington Mill
    Yarlington Mill is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.

History

England, early 20th century.


Somerset Redstreak characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonLate
  • Picking periodmid-October
  • Keeping2-3 weeks
  • Food usesHard cider
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Fruit colourOrange / RedRed striped

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Dabinett
    Dabinett
    Dabinett is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
  • See also Kingston Black
    Kingston Black
    Kingston Black is one of the premier English cider varieties and produces a bittersharp juice.
  • See also Michelin
    Michelin
    Michelin is a traditional French cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
  • See also Yarlington Mill
    Yarlington Mill
    Yarlington 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.


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