Ashmead's Kernel

Ashmead’s Kernel is one of England’s finest heritage dessert apples, renowned for its intense sweet-sharp flavour and exceptional aromatic richness.

Equally suited to fresh eating, juicing, and sauce making, it develops even greater complexity after storage.

Features

• Rich sweet-tart flavour with strong aromatic character
• Firm, juicy flesh with a dense texture
• Excellent dessert apple and outstanding for apple sauce
• Produces richly flavoured juice
• Traditional russeted heritage variety
• Vigorous tree with reliable annual cropping
• Fruit borne in clusters on short spurs
• Flavour improves significantly during storage

Origins / Notes

Originated in Gloucester around 1720 and is regarded as one of England’s finest historic dessert apples. It became widely known for its distinctive, complex flavour and remains highly prized by apple enthusiasts today.

Disease Resistance

Some resistance to apple scab and fireblight.
Resistant to cedar apple rust and powdery mildew.
Can be susceptible to canker.

Pollination Season

Mid to late season

Harvesting Season

Late season, typically from October onwards.

Storage

Stores well for around 1 month initially, though under ideal cold storage conditions fruit can keep considerably longer. Best eating window is from late autumn into winter, when flavour develops greater sweetness, richness, and complexity.

Need help choosing your Rootstock?

Please refer to our Rootstock Guide in the first instance.

Need help selecting your organic apple tree?

You might want to have a read of our Guide - How to Choose the Right Apple Tree - that gives an overview of all the decisions you'll need to make and tips on how to make them

Whereas varieties determine the type of apple you get, the rootstock determines the growing characteristics, vigour and ultimate height of the tree.

Selecting the right rootstock for your site and preference is just as important as the variety you chose. The different rootstocks we graft with and their uses are listed below.

M26 – Semi dwarf. Up to 3m high. Requires staking. Used for bush trees. Suitable for small gardens & allotments, for training into cordons & espaliers. Startsbfruiting after 2-3 years. Space bush trees 2-4m apart.

M116 – Medium. A semi-vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 3-4m high. Good for wet soil conditions. Start fruiting after 3-4 years.  Space trees 3.6m with 4.5m between the rows.

MM106 – Medium. A semi-vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 3-4m high. Good for half standards, espaliers, cordons. Start fruiting after 3-4 years. Space trees 3.6m with 4.5m between the rows.     

M111 – Large. A vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 4m high. Tolerates wet ground, more exposed sites, higher altitudes, and shallower soil conditions, has good disease resistance. Good for farms, larger smallholdings. Start fruiting after 4-5 years   Space trees 4-6m apart with 6m between the rows.

M25– Very Large. A very vigorous rootstock, with trees growing up to 6m (20ft) high. Grow as full or half standard. Ideal in poorer soil in exposed sites. Not ideal for the most gardens unless the soil is poor. Start fruiting after 5-6 years.  Space trees 4.5m apart with 6m between the rows.

Mid Season

For more information about pollination groups, please click here.