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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Kingston Black

Malus domestica
Kingston Black apples
Kingston Black is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Kingston Black is one of the definitive English cider apple varieties and produces a high quality bittersharp juice.

It is one of the few cider varieties where the juice is sufficiently balanced to make a single-varietal cider.

Note that Kingston Black cannot be eaten fresh - it is grown solely for juice / cider use.

Kingston Black 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

Recommended pollinators for Kingston Black cider apple trees

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

  • Pollinator Harry Masters Jersey
    Harry Masters Jersey
    Harry Masters Jersey is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
  • 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 Michelin
    Michelin
    Michelin is a traditional French cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
  • Pollinator Katy
    Katy
    Katy is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Howgate Wonder
    Howgate Wonder
    Howgate Wonder is a large cooking apple which keeps well. Produces an excellent sharp juice.
  • Pollinator Honeycrisp
    Honeycrisp
    Honeycrisp is an American cold-hardy disease-resistant apple - it shows just how good modern apples have become.
  • Pollinator Golden Delicious
    Golden Delicious
    The flavour of home-grown Golden Delicious is far better than its supermarket reputation.
  • Pollinator Bloody Ploughman
    Bloody Ploughman
    An old Scottish apple variety, named for the crimson-red colour of its skin and stained flesh.

History

Takes its name from the the town of Kingston near Taunton in Somerset, the main cider-growing area of the UK. Thought to have arisen in the 19th century.


Kingston Black characteristics

  • Gardening skillExperienced
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonVery late
  • Picking monthNovember
  • Picking periodearly November
  • Keeping2-3 weeks
  • Food usesHard cider
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourCrimson

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Dabinett
    Dabinett
    Dabinett is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet 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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