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Discovery apple trees

Discovery has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritDiscovery is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Discovery is the definitive early-season English apple variety, makes a good fruit tree for the garden.
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Discovery apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree M27 rootstock £59.00
    Very small tree (< 1.7m after 10 years)
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  • PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £55.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
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  • PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £55.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £60.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
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Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree M9 rootstock £38.25
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
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  • BR22-year bush-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.75
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
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  • BR31-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
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  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree M26 rootstock £43.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
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  • BR51-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £34.95
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
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  • BR62-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
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  • BR72-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £45.25
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Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th March onwards where these items are showing as in stock.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95. It is calculated when you add trees to your basket, based on your postcode.

Fruit tree delivery to EuropeEU delivery
This variety is also available for delivery to Europe. Contact us for details.

Discovery is probably the most well-known early English apple variety, ripening in late August. It is very easy to grow, and has excellent natural disease resistance.

Discovery is grown commercially on a small scale in the UK, but it has a very short shelf-life, and shop-bought apples can be disappointing if not picked at exactly the right time. For this reason Discovery is definitely a variety that is better grown in the garden, and preferably eaten straight from the tree - although it will keep in a fridge for a week if necessary.

In some years there is a hint of strawberry flavour, which adds to the summery appeal.

Discovery also excels as a variety for juicing, as it produces a very well-balanced sweet/sharp juice

How to grow

Discovery is very easy to grow. Being an early-season apple, it can ripen in a short growing season and is therefore a good choice for northern areas. It is a reliable cropper even as far north as Caithness.

It is also good choice for growers in areas of high rainfall. Although a very "English" apple, Discovery is known to be very cold-hardy, and able to tolerate temperatures much lower than those usually found in the UK.

A characteristic of Discovery is that the tree will often drop quite a lot of apples near maturity. It's best to wait a bit longer if you can, rather than taking this as a cue to start picking.

Discovery is also one of the best varieties for organic growers or gardeners who do not want to spray their trees - it has excellent natural disease resistance. The apples are invariably clean with a good finish.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Discovery is a seedling of another popular English early apple, Worcester Pearmain, found in Essex, UK, in 1949.

Discovery characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonEarly
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Food usesEating freshJuice

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourRed
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

Similar varieties

  • See also Rosette
    Rosette
    A pink-fleshed form of Discovery.