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Prince William cider apple trees

Malus domestica
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 2
Prince William is a modern bittersweet cider variety from the famous Long Ashton Research Station.

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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.

Prince William is a modern bittersweet cider variety. It has an interesting parentage - it is a cross between Michelin, a traditional French bittersweet cider variety, and the well-known James Grieve dual-purpose apple from Scotland.

The apples have a yellow skin, overlaid with an orange flush where the sun catches them. The stalk is usually quite long - like Michelin.

The apples ripen in late September but are not really suitable for eating, and instead should be used for juice and cider blends.

How to grow

Although relatively new, Prince William has proved to be easy to grow and a reliable cropper.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Prince William was developed at the Long Ashton Research Station in the 1980s, part of a progamme supervised by the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) to extend the harvest period of UK cider production. Whereas most traditional varieties aren't ripe until November, Prince William can be harvested in late September.

The variety was named in June 2003 by cider manufacturers Bulmer, in honour of Prince Wiliam's 21st birthday - the Prince having apparently announced he preferred cider to beer.

Prince William characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesJuiceHard cider

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Flesh colourCream

Similar varieties

  • See also James Grieve
    James Grieve
    James Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
  • Three Counties
    Another bittersweet developed at Long Ashton, but Three Counties is a cross between Dabinett and James Grieve.