How to use this catalogue

I have tried to make this catalogue as easy to use as possible, but please do not hesitate to ask for advice.

Please read the following concerning apples, in conjunction with the variety lists. (Pears and plums are dealt with separately). Dual-purpose varieties are noted, and placed under ‘culinary apples’.

1. The first digit after the variety name refers to the nature of our knowledge about that variety, as follows:

(A) Those grown successfully in our own organic trials.

(B) Those grown successfully under local (mostly organic) conditions.

(C) This known to succeed from reports (current or historic) elsewhere in the north and west of the UK.

(D) Historic, local or new varieties for which information is currently limited. Here we must acknowledge our debt to that excellent modern reference, 'The Book of Apples' by Dr Joan Morgan, available from the Brogdale Horticultural Trust (Tel. 01795 535 286)

2. The second digit refers to the pollination group of the variety. Apples are divided into 7 groups. Apple varieties normally require or benefit from pollination by a different variety of the same group. In most seasons, the adjacent group will also suffice. Parents and progeny do not pollinate each other adequately, so the ancestry of a variety - stated after the date of introduction if any other varieties in this catalogue are involved - must be considered. An * next to the number indicates that the variety is considered to have particularly attractive blossom. Where a variety is also marked ‘Triploid’ it does not produce viable pollen, so will not pollinate any other variety.

3.The third digit (S or N) indicates whether a variety is said to be partially self-fertile (S) or not (N). This may be a consideration where space is limiting – although trained forms such as cordons offer an alternative solution - or where unusually windy conditions restrict movement of insect pollinators.

4. The fourth set of digits indicates the vigour of the variety. The ultimate size of a tree is a combination of the rootstock and the variety. A‘V2’ variety will approximate the height mentioned in paragraph 7, below, whereas a ‘V1’ variety will be up to 30% less, a ‘V3’ variety up to 30% more.

5. One or two varieties are ‘tipbearers’, which means they are not suitable for growing as trained forms such as cordons and espaliers. If so, this is stated after the vigour as ‘tip’.

6. Next, the month(s) of use are stated. Note that this may differ from picking time, since some varieties must ripen in storage. In the north of the UK, many varieties start later and will keep longer than stated.

7. Finally, the rootstocks on which the variety is available is stated, e.g. MM106, M26

A variety of V2 vigour will approximate the heights in feet shown below on different rootstocks;

M27-5'; M26-9'; Pixy-12';
MM106, Quince 'A', St Julian 'A'-15;
MM111-18'; M25 - 20'.

Spacing;

M27 - 10'; M26, Pixy - 12';
St Julian 'A', Quince 'A', MM106 - 15';
MM111 - 20'; M25 - 22'.