Apple 'Grenadier'

'Grenadier' is widely considered the best early-season cooking apple for UK gardens. Emerging in the Victorian era, it is a Victorian classic that produces large, round, pale-green fruits with a ribbed surface. When cooked, the fruit breaks down into a superb, smooth, cream-coloured purée with a refreshingly acidic flavour. It is one of the easiest apples to grow, possessing excellent disease resistance and a compact, manageable habit. It is a reliable and heavy cropper, often needing its fruit thinned to prevent branch breakage. The tree is particularly hardy and performs well in the North of England and Scotland. It is self-sterile, requiring a pollination partner from the same flowering group. The blossoms are large, pink-white, and quite hardy against spring frosts. A must-have for the home cook’s orchard.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Any fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Apr, May.