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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Ribston Pippin

Ribston Pippin apples
Ribston Pippin has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritRibston Pippin is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

A particuarly handsome apple, thought to be one of the parents of Cox's Orange Pippin. It has some of the aromatic qualities of that variety when eaten fresh, but is noticeably sharper in flavour - and for this reason is often used in the kitchen as well.

By Victorian times Ribston Pippin was very popular as a late autumn apple, and the Victorian fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg reported that it was in "greatest perfection during November and December".

Ribston Pippin apple trees for sale

  • RF11-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
  • RF22-year bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£43.00
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a large bush-trained free-standing apple tree.
    Available next season
  • RF32-year half-standard bare-root tree on MM106 rootstock£46.50
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Suitable for a free-standing half-standard 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

Ribston Pippin is a tough tree, suitable for growing throughout England and much of Scotland - but it needs a sheltered situation in more northerly gardens and it prefers a drier climate than a wet one if possible.

 

 

 


Recommended pollinators for Ribston Pippin apple trees

Ribston Pippin is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety. The following varieties are good pollinators for Ribston Pippin. 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 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.
  • Pollinator Saturn
    Saturn
    An attractive modern English apple, crisp flesh and an excellent flavour.

History

Named after Ribston Hall in North Yorkshire, England, where this variety was first planted in the 18th century. Having been grown in Yorkshire for more than 200 years Ribston Pippin is rightly regarded as a traditional Yorkshire variety, however it was almost certainly brought to Ribston Hall from France.


Ribston Pippin characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersPoor
  • Pick seasonLate
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • Keeping1-2 months
  • Food usesEating freshCulinary
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1700 - 1749
  • Fruit colourOrange flush

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Charles Ross
    Charles Ross
    Charles Ross is a very attractive classic English dual-purpose apple.
  • See also Cox's Orange Pippin
    Cox's Orange Pippin
    Cox is widely acknowledged as having the best flavour of any apple variety.
  • See also Kidd's Orange Red
    Kidd's Orange Red
    Kidd's Orange Red is one of the best Cox-style apples, aromatic, sweet, and easy to grow.
  • See also Sunset
    Sunset
    Sunset is a popular garden alternative to Cox, easier to grow, with a sweet aromatic 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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