Bloody Ploughman apple trees
Malus domestica - Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
There are numerous stories about the origins of this well-known Scottish apple. In essence the variety arose as a seedling, allegedly near the grave of a ploughman who had been shot by a gamekeeper for stealing apples (or perhaps something more valuable). The knobbly skin is indeed a crimson-red colour, and this is also a variety where the flesh can sometimes be stained red as well.
Bloody Ploughman is often considered an eating apple in Scotland, but south of the border tends to be regarded as a cooker!
Bloody Ploughman apple trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR22-year bush-trained bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR32-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR42-year half-standard bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£46.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
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Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Pre-ordering
Pre-order now for delivery in September 2025
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Recommended pollinators for Bloody Ploughman apple trees
Bloody Ploughman is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Bloody Ploughman.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
BraeburnBraeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
Wedding BouquetMalus Wedding Bouquet features ivory-white blossom and tiny red berry-like fruitlets.
Golden HornetMalus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
Ellison's OrangeEllison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
John DownieJohn Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
Golden GemA traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.
GalaGala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
Newton WonderA traditional English cooking apple, a good alternative to Bramley.
History
Bloody Ploughman originates from the area around Megginch in the Carse of Gowrie in eastern Scotland. It was first recorded in 1883, and it is rumoured that the original tree is still alive.
The Carse of Gowrie is an area of high quality agricultural land between the towns of Perth and Dundee. It has long been associated with fruit-growing, and has one of the best climates in Scotland, with a combination of low rainfall and good levels of sunshine. Whilst the ancestry of Bloody Ploughman is unknown, the story suggests it is most likely a seedling of a local variety.
Bloody Ploughman characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group4
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
- Food usesCulinaryJuiceHard cider
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1850 - 1899
- Blossom colourPink - light
- Fruit colourRed / Green
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
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Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions.
Find out more.
More about apple trees
There is no doubt that the famous Bramley's Seedling still rightly reigns supreme. Characterised by its copious rich juicy acidity it quickly renders to stiff puree in the kitchen, and is the benchmark for English apple cookery. However we have noticed a real resurgence in interest in the humble cooking apple in recent years, with cooks looking beyond Bramley for other qualities and textures.
Look out for cooking apples which ripen earlier than Bramley, such as Grenadier or Keswick Codlin.
Scotland also has a strong tradition of cooking apples - Galloway Pippin, Scotch Bridget, Scotch Dumpling for example. This also illustrates another useful quality of cooking apples - they can be productive even in climates where grey skies and rain are more frequent than sun and blue skies.
Many cooking apples are also great for juicing, especially if you like your apple juice to have a bit of an acidic kick.
