Ashmead's Kernel apple trees
Malus domestica - Picking season: Late October
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
Ashmeads Kernel is a very old traditional English russet apple. It remains popular for its distinctive pear-like flavour which is quite different from most other apple varieties.
Although often considered as a connoisseur's dessert apple, Ashmead's Kernel is actually quite versatile. It can be used for cooking, or sliced in savoury salads, and it keeps very well in a cold store.
Ashmead's Kernel is also becoming increasingly recognised for its juice, which adds an interesting fruity component to cider blends.
Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale
Pot-grown
All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.
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£61.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Very small tree
(< 1.7m after 10 years)
PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree, M26 rootstock£57.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree, MM106 rootstock£57.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree, MM106 rootstock£62.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Bare-root
BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree,M9 rootstock£44.75
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR2Cordon-trained bare-root tree,M9 rootstock£46.25
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR31-year bare-root tree,M26 rootstock£34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree,M26 rootstock£43.00
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR51-year bare-root tree,M116 rootstock£35.75
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR61-year bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR72-year bush-trained bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR82-year bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£46.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR92-year half-standard bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£46.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR101-year bare-root tree,M25 rootstock£35.75
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
BR112-year (1.75m) bare-root tree,M25 rootstock£46.95
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
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.
Growing and Training
Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, and perhaps because it is such an ancient variety, it is relatively disease resistant. It can be a light cropper and this usually caused by poor pollination at blossom time - planting another late-flowering apple tree or crab-apple tree nearby is a good idea.
Recommended pollinators for Ashmead's Kernel apple trees
Ashmead's Kernel is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Ashmead's Kernel.
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.
GalaGala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
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.
Newton WonderA traditional English cooking apple, a good alternative to Bramley.
John DownieJohn Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
Peasgood's NonsuchPeasgood Nonsuch is a highly-regarded old-fashioned English cooking apple.
Wedding BouquetMalus Wedding Bouquet features ivory-white blossom and tiny red berry-like fruitlets.
History
Originated in England in the 1700s, probably in Gloucestershire.
Ashmead's Kernel characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group4
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingLight
- Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
- Food usesEating freshJuice
- Disease resistanceGood
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
- Powdery mildewSome resistance
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1700 - 1749
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourRusset
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
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.
Find out more.
Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden while 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
Towards the end of September and into October we see late-season apple varieties beginning to ripen. Their longer ripening period typically means these varieties have the most interesting flavours.
Unlike mid and early season apples which are generally best eaten straight from the tree, many late-season varieties need to be stored in a fridge for a few weeks to mature before their flavours are at their peak. So if you want to be able to eat home-grown apples through the winter then late-season varieties are your best choice.
Some of the most famous English apple varieties fall into this category - including the classic Adams Pearmain, and the ancient Ashmead's Kernel with its peardrop flavours. We also find popular modern varieties such as Spartan, Red Falstaff, Fiesta, and Kidd's Orange Red all coming to perfection at this time of year.
