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Ballerina Samba® apple trees

Malus domestica
Ballerina Samba is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
One of the best-flavoured Ballerina minarette-type apple varieties.

Ballerina Samba apple trees for sale

Sorry we have not produced any trees of this variety this season.

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.

Samba is a recent Ballerina-style apple, derived from Flamenco, but crossed with the popular Falstaff apple variety.

Like all Ballerina varieties, Samba grows in a compact vertical or fastigiate fashion. However it is unusual amongst Ballerina varieties in that it also produces strong side-shoots, although these extend only a short distance before turning sharply vertical.

The flavour of Samba is amongst the best of these minarette varieties for eating fresh, and the apples can also be used for a crab-apple-style jelly.

How to grow

Samba should reach a maximum height of about 3m / 10ft after 5 years or so - often a bit less. There is no need to stake the tree unless you have very sandy soil or a windy situation. It can also be grown in a large patio container.

After 5 years or so you can also thin out some of the fruiting spurs if they appear to be becoming congested, but try to avoid pruning (especially in winter) as pruning can spoil the columnar appearance.

When planting this variety as a 1-year bare-root tree, do not prune back the stem (contrary to what is suggested in our main planting instructions).

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Samba is one of the most recent Ballerina-style apple varieties, developed at East Malling in Kent. It was introduced in 2008. The unusual minarette-like form is inherited from one of its ancestors, a natural genetic mutation of the well-known McIntosh apple variety, called Wijcik.

Whilst all these varieties have excellent ornamental impact, the flavour of the original McIntosh Wijcik was suitable only for cooking. Samba is a cross between the popular Flamenco Ballerina variety and Falstaff - and inherits the latter's productivity and good flavour. However it is the influence of Falstaff, particularly its tendency to produce lots of branches from a young age, which explains why Samba does not grow in the pole-like fashion common to other Ballerina varieties.

Ballerina Samba characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryJuice

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin2000
  • Blossom colourPink - light
  • Fruit colourYellow / Red