apple 'Monarch'
cooking apple
A late-season cooking apple with pale yellow skin, tinged with pink-red, and soft, white flesh. This vintage culinary apple, originating from Chelmsford, Essex in 1888, offers versatility.
Harvested in October, it remains excellent for culinary use from November through to January, and as a substitute for ‘Bramley's Seedling’, it strikes a balance between tartness and acidity, requiring less additional sugar due to its natural sweetness.
A reliable apple that is resistant to scab, ‘Monarch’ is an astute choice for cultivation in damper regions such as the West country.
Pollination information: This apple belongs to pollination group 3, and is partially self-fertile. To increase yields, it can be cross-pollinated with other apples in this group, or those from groups 2 or 4.
Harvested in October, it remains excellent for culinary use from November through to January, and as a substitute for ‘Bramley's Seedling’, it strikes a balance between tartness and acidity, requiring less additional sugar due to its natural sweetness.
A reliable apple that is resistant to scab, ‘Monarch’ is an astute choice for cultivation in damper regions such as the West country.
Pollination information: This apple belongs to pollination group 3, and is partially self-fertile. To increase yields, it can be cross-pollinated with other apples in this group, or those from groups 2 or 4.
How to care for apple Monarch:
When planting your apple tree, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole. Place the plant in the planting hole and carefully refill, firming the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets. Insert stake at this point if required.
Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting - or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up.
Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year water regularly during hot, dry spells.
The main prune should be done in the winter as long as it isn't frosty or freezing. Take out the 3D’s (dead, dying and diseased wood) and create an open shape. Then reduce the leaders back by a third. Aim to create an airy structure without any crisscrossing branches.
In August summer prune. Shorten any side shoots (or laterals) which are longer than 20cm back to three leaves. This will allow the sun to ripen the fruit and encourage more fruit buds. Make sure that the growth you’re cutting away feels firm to the touch.
Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting - or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up.
Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year water regularly during hot, dry spells.
The main prune should be done in the winter as long as it isn't frosty or freezing. Take out the 3D’s (dead, dying and diseased wood) and create an open shape. Then reduce the leaders back by a third. Aim to create an airy structure without any crisscrossing branches.
In August summer prune. Shorten any side shoots (or laterals) which are longer than 20cm back to three leaves. This will allow the sun to ripen the fruit and encourage more fruit buds. Make sure that the growth you’re cutting away feels firm to the touch.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This plant is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
bare root | M26 root stock | 1.2m tall
£34.99
available to order from autumn
Unavailable
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