Malus domestica Fiesta / Red Pippin - Eating Apples
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A blushing red and yellow beauty of an apple, with a fine flavour and crunchy flesh, the Fiesta is one of the best offspring of the famous Cox's Orange Pippin and, unlike its parent, is easy to grow. This is a sweet tasting apple, but Fiesta has preserved some of the tangier flavours that make Cox so distinctive although it can't really be described as a substitute. Fiesta apples are good juicers and store well- after picking in late September, they can last well into January without much loss of flavour.
Fiesta Apple Trees: History and Parentage
The Fiesta apple tree was bred by Dr Alston at the East Malling Research Station in 1972. The other parent is Idared, which has some similarities to Cox in terms of flavour and storage. Recently, there has been a marketing attempt to rename it Red Pippin.
Apple Tree Pollination Guide for Fiesta apple trees
Being partially self-fertile, a pollination partner is not essential, although your crop size and flavour will suffer. Fiesta is a flowers in Group D and can cross pollinate with any other pollinator in Groups C-E.
Rootstocks and Cultivation Notes
Our Fiesta Apple trees are on MM106 rootstocks, with the exception of those grown as cordons (M9). Fiesta apple trees have a compact habit and are one of the best cordon apple trees. Extremely hardy and so a good choice if late frosts are an issue in your area. Though they are not very vigorous, they become heavy croppers in time with an even harvest from year to year.
If you are unclear about fruit tree sizes take a look at our Guide to Fruit Tree Sizing
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Please note that these are pot grown to allow for summer and autumn planting