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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Saint Edmund's Russet

Saint Edmund's Russet apples
Saint Edmund's Russet has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritSaint Edmund's Russet is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Saint Edmund's Russet (sometimes known as St. Edmund's Pippin) is one of the best English russet apple varieties. It looks superb with its dull matt russet colouring, and tastes great.

The flavour is arguably richer than its better-known compatriot Egremont Russet, and noticeably juicier.

Saint Edmund's Russet apple trees for sale

  • 1-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

Growing and Training

Saint Edmund's Russet is a good garden apple variety, it crops reliably and grows in a wide range of conditions. Like many russet varieties, it has some natural resistance to many of the main apple diseases. It is a good choice for growers in areas of high rainfall.

The only thing to look out for is that it can be a partial tip-bearer - some apples are borne on the ends of shoots rather than the more usual short fruit-bearing spurs. For this reason it is best to keep pruning to a minimum, to avoid accidentally pruning the fruit-bearing tips of shoots.


Recommended pollinators for Saint Edmund's Russet apple trees

Saint Edmund's Russet is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.

  • Pollinator Evereste
    Evereste
    Evereste is one of the most well-known crab-apples, featuring white blossom and red-yellow fruits.
  • Pollinator Fiesta
    Fiesta
    Fiesta (or Red Pippin) is one of the best Cox-style apples, easy to grow, with a good aromatic flavour.
  • Pollinator Gorgeous
    Gorgeous
    Malus Gorgeous has pink/white blossom and spherical cherry-like red fruits which are good for jelly.
  • Pollinator Greensleeves
    Greensleeves
    Greensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
  • Pollinator James Grieve
    James Grieve
    James Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
  • Pollinator Katy
    Katy
    Katy is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Red Devil
    Red Devil
    Red Devil is a good apple variety for the UK garden, and produces a sweet red-tinted juice.
  • Pollinator Red Falstaff
    Red Falstaff
    Red Falstaff is one of the best garden apple trees, heavy crops, easy to grow, and very juicy.

History

Raised by Mr Harvey of the town of Bury St. Edmunds, in the county of Suffolk, England, in 1875.


Saint Edmund's Russet characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonMid
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • Keeping2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating freshJuiceHard cider
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourRusset

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Ashmead's Kernel
    Ashmead's Kernel
    A versatile English 17th century russet apple, Ashmead's Kernel is noted for its distinctive pear-like flavour.
  • 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.

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.


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