Moderate Fruit Trees

The Malus domestica 'Starking' tree, commonly known as the Starking apple tree, is a cultivar prized for its exceptional qualities in home orchards and commercial fruit production. Belonging to the Rosaceae family, this deciduous tree bears the fruit that epitomizes the classic apple flavour profile – sweet with a hint of tartness, crisp, and juicy.

Starking apple trees are renowned for their moderate growth rate, reaching heights of around 12 to 15 feet at maturity, with a similar spread. Their sturdy, upright branches make them suitable for various climates and soil types, although they thrive best in well-drained, fertile soils with full sun exposure.

The tree produces an abundance of medium to large-sized apples, typically ripe for harvest in mid to late autumn. The Starking apple itself boasts a vibrant red skin, often with some green undertones, making it visually appealing. Its flesh is white, dense, and succulent, offering a satisfying crunch with each bite.

One of the notable characteristics of the Starking apple is its versatility in culinary applications. Whether eaten fresh, baked into pies, or pressed into cider, the Starking apple delivers a delightful blend of sweetness and acidity that enhances a wide array of dishes and beverages.

In Spring the Starking apple tree it bursts into a profusion of fragrant white blossoms. These blossoms not only beautify the landscape but also attract pollinators, ensuring abundant fruit set.

Caring for a Starking apple tree involves regular pruning to maintain its shape, promote airflow, and encourage fruit production. Adequate watering, especially during periods of drought, and annual fertilization are essential for optimal growth and fruit development.

The Malus domestica 'Renetta Canada' tree, commonly known as the Renetta Canada apple tree, is a cultivar prized for its unique characteristics and excellent fruit quality. Belonging to the Rosaceae family, this deciduous tree typically reaches a height of about 10 to 15 feet at maturity, with a spreading canopy that provides ample shade in the summer months.

Renetta Canada is known for its vigorous growth habit and relatively low maintenance requirements, making it a popular choice among home gardeners and commercial orchardists alike. Its branches are sturdy and well-branched, capable of bearing heavy loads of fruit without bending or breaking under the weight.

One of the most distinctive features of the Renetta Canada apple tree is its fruit. The apples produced by this cultivar are medium to large in size, with a round or slightly conical shape. The skin of the apple is smooth and yellow-green, often adorned with reddish-orange blushes and russeting, giving it an attractive appearance. The flesh is firm, crisp, and juicy, with a sweet-tart flavor that is highly aromatic. Renetta Canada apples are excellent for fresh eating, as well as for use in cooking, baking, and cider making.

In terms of growing conditions, the Renetta Canada apple tree thrives in temperate climates with well-drained soil and full sun exposure. It is moderately tolerant of drought and frost, although consistent watering and protection from extreme weather conditions can help ensure optimal growth and fruit production.

Renetta Canada apple trees are generally self-fertile, meaning they do not require another apple tree for pollination. However, planting multiple trees nearby can increase fruit set and yield. The trees typically begin bearing fruit within 3 to 4 years after planting and continue to produce for many years with proper care and maintenance.

James Grieve Apple is a hardy, deciduous tree suitable for cold climate zones. It is best grown in northerly areas with cold winters, moderate summer temperatures, and medium to high humidity. It’s an old apple variety, raised in 1893. in Edinburgh, Scotland, by James Grieve from pollination of Cox’s Orange Pippin and most likely Pott’s Seedling apple. Generally, a resilient plant, it needs some protection from harsh winds. It’s a good polliniser for other apples. It cannot be found in supermarkets because it is sensitive to pressure and easily bruised and cannot sustain supermarket handling.

James Grieve apples are medium to large, yellow-green, speckled and striped orange-red, with creamy, refreshing and very juicy flesh. At the beginning of season, it is sharp and perfect for cooking, retaining its shape when cooked. After a few weeks, it becomes milder and sweeter, like a firm pear in texture.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Pyrus communis 'Ercolini', also known as Ercolini pear, is a cultivar of the European pear. It is a deciduous fruit tree that can grow up to 5-7 meters tall and wide when fully matured.

The fruit of the Ercolini pear is medium-sized, weighing about 150-200 grams, with a yellow-green skin that turns yellowish-brown when fully ripe. The skin is slightly rough and dotted with small brown spots. The flesh is juicy, sweet, and creamy white in color. It has a classic pear flavor, with a hint of vanilla and a slightly gritty texture.

Ercolini pear trees are known for their hardiness and disease resistance, making them a popular choice for home orchards and commercial growers alike. They are self-fruitful, but will produce more fruit with cross-pollination from another pear tree. The fruit ripens in mid to late August, and can be stored for several weeks in cold storage.

Overall, the Ercolini pear is a delicious and easy-to-grow variety that is perfect for eating fresh or for use in cooking and baking. Its classic pear flavor and texture make it a favorite among pear lovers, and its disease resistance and hardiness make it a reliable choice for any orchard.

Pyrus communis 'Blanquilla' is a popular variety of pear that is prized for its sweet, juicy flesh and delicate flavor. This variety is believed to have originated in Spain and is now widely cultivated in many parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Asia.

The Blanquilla pear has a medium to large size and a distinctive bell-like shape with a slightly elongated neck. The skin of the pear is thin and smooth, with a greenish-yellow color that may have a slight blush of red on the side facing the sun. The flesh is crisp and juicy, with a sweet, slightly tangy flavor that is often compared to that of a pineapple.

Blanquilla pears are typically harvested in late summer to early fall, and they are best when eaten fresh. They can also be used in a variety of culinary applications, including baking, poaching, and canning. When selecting Blanquilla pears, look for fruits that are firm but yield slightly to pressure, with no visible signs of bruising or damage.

Overall, Pyrus communis 'Blanquilla' is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a flavorful and versatile pear that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

Malus Domestica 'King of the Pippins' is a type of apple that is known for its distinct taste and appearance. This heirloom variety has been grown for over 300 years and remains popular today due to its exceptional flavor and crisp texture.

The fruit has a round to oblong shape with a greenish-yellow skin that is often blushed with red. The skin is thin and tender, making it easy to bite into. The flesh is creamy white and has a firm texture with a sweet, juicy, and slightly tart taste.

'King of the Pippins' apples are typically harvested in mid to late September and can be stored for several weeks in a cool, dark place. They are versatile apples that can be used in a variety of ways, including eating raw, baking, cooking, and juicing.

This apple variety is also known for its disease-resistant qualities, making it a popular choice for home gardeners and commercial growers alike. Its hardiness and adaptability make it well-suited to a wide range of growing conditions.

Overall, Malus Domestica 'King of the Pippins' is a delicious and versatile apple that is a favorite among apple enthusiasts for its outstanding flavor, texture, and appearance.

Malus Domestica 'Golden Delicious’ is a heavily-producing, deciduous apple tree, with oval, dark green leaves and lovely, fragrant, white flowers blooming in April. Attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Flowers are followed by heavy and regular crops of greenish-yellow to golden-yellow, delicious, sweet, crispy, juicy, and aromatic apples. Malus Domestica 'Golden Delicious’ grows best in moderately fertile, neutral, deep, loamy, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun, but can adapt to partial shade. It requires cold winters for good fruit production, but it has to be sheltered from harsh winter winds. It is self-fertile but needs a pollinator of anther variety blooming at the same time for better crops. Regular pruning and fruit thinning are required to improve fruit size and quality. 'Golden Delicious' Apple is a wonderful, ornamental tree, a nice addition to any garden. It is primarily grown for its delicious fruit, perfect for eating fresh and great for cooking. One of the best apple varieties.

Prunus domestica 'Czar' is a medium-sized, compact, deciduous plum tree, with mid- to dark green leaves and masses of lovely, white flowers. Flowers are followed by large, round, deep-blue plum fruits, ready to be harvested in August. Plums have blue-black skin, yellow-green flesh, acidic taste, and are mostly used for baking and cooking. If left to ripen fully, they become darker and sweeter. Prunus domestica 'Czar' grows best in fertile, neutral, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun or partial shade. It is more resistant to frost damage than other plum cultivars. It still needs to be sheltered from harsh winter winds. A self-fertile plant that doesn’t need a pollinator, but for best crops, another plum tree needs to be planted nearby. Low maintenance plant. Regular pruning required according to tree form. Plum ‘Czar’ is mostly grown for its fruit and its crop is regular and abundant. It can be a lovely addition to small informal and cottage gardens.

St. Julian rootstock is moderately vigorous, imparting greater hardiness and adaptability to various soils for plum trees. It's semi-dwarf, promoting earlier fruiting, manageable tree sizes, and is widely utilized.

Fiesta Red Pippin apple tree is an easy-to-grow apple tree with reliable yield developed in 1972. in the United Kingdom by crossing Cox’s Red Pippin and Idared apple. As a hybrid, Fiesta apple combined the qualities of these two apple varieties. It is similar in taste to Cox’s Red Pippin, but much easier to grow and last longer when stored after the harvest.

Fiesta Red Pippin plant is a bushy, deciduous tree available on different rootstocks to accommodate to wide variety of gardens. When grown on rootstocks, the tree fruits earlier. It has pretty pale pink flowers that emerge in spring and are followed by attractive and aromatic apples with smooth, yellow skin and orange-red striping in early October. The flesh is fine-grained, crisp, ivory to white. Pippin apples have a sweet, nutty, mildly acidic flavour and are mostly suited for eating fresh and for juicing.