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Winter Gem apple trees

Winter Gem

Winter Gem is one of the best-flavoured new apple varieties developed in the 1990s by the late Hugh Ermen.

It is a cross between Grimes Golden and Cox's Orange Pippin, and as you might expect has a pronounced aromatic flavour. Grimes Golden is not that well-known in the UK but is the probable parent of Golden Delicious. Some enthusiasts reckon that Grimes Golden is a better apple than Golden Delicious, as it has the same sweetness but with a bit more richness. This means that Winter Gem inherits characteristics from two of the most influential apple families in the world, and if you appreciate apple flavours it is well worth trying.

As the name suggests, Winter Gem is a late-season apple, and the apples can be stored for several months.

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Winter Gem 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.

  • PG1Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree M9 rootstock £43.50
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
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  • PG2Espalier 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £59.50
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
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  • PG3Fan-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £59.50
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
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Bare-root

  • BR1Cordon-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £33.95
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £19.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
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  • BR31-year bare-root tree M116 rootstock £19.95
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)
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  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £29.95
    Large tree (3m-4m after 10 years)

How to grow

Unlike either of its parents, Winter Gem is well-suited to UK gardens - indeed this is a characteristic of many varieties developed by Hugh Ermen.

It can be a light cropper (although this is perhaps part of the reason for its good flavour). Make sure there are suitable pollination partner varieties nearby - Red Devil, Srumptious, Falstaff, Saturn and Charles Ross would be good choices. In other respects it is quite easy to grow.

Winter Gem works particularly well as a small tree on a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock. On more vigorous rootstocks it will produce a large and attractive tree.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Winter Gem is a cross between Grimes Golden and Cox's Orange Pippin, and was developed in the UK by Hugh Ermen.

Winter Gem characteristics

Growing

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

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
  • Food usesEating fresh
  • Flavour style (apples)Aromatic

Problems

  • ScabSome susceptibility

Climate

    Identification

    • Country of originUnited Kingdom
    • Period of origin1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colourOrange flush