Kingston Black Cider Apples
A great variety that large scale cider makers have forgotten about, Kingston Black cider apple trees- are all about quality over quantity. The fruit are small and conical and can be deep orange or maroon in colour. The juice has a highly aromatic bittersweet flavour, just perfect for cider. In fact, we would go so far as to say that Kingston Black apples are one of the best vintage cider apples around. While the Trees- are fairly vigorous, they are slow to start producing fruit and have lower yields than most other similar Trees. Given that you won't need any other apples to make top notch cider, these characteristics shouldn't be such a problem. Another reason that they have fallen out of favour with farmers is that they are more susceptible to scab than some especially if you live in the south west. Having said which, they originated around Taunton, Somerset and so are sometimes also known as Black Tauntons. They are ready to pick from early November.
Pollination Partners for Kingston Black
If you have several apple Trees- to pollinate or feel at all unsure about choosing a suitable partner, go for a crab apple like the Golden Hornet or Red-berried varieties. Kingston Black flowers in the mid-season and is therefore a match for any of the fertile Trees- in the Apple Tree Pollination list, in particular with those that are also listed as mid-season.
Kingston Black Rootstocks
Because we use MM106 rootstocks for our apple Trees-, you can grow a medium sized tree, a shorter bush or any of the various trained forms, like cordons and espaliers. For 2009, only maiden Kingston Black Trees- are available, we expect to have other sizes in stock next year.
If you are unclear about fruit tree sizes take a look at our Guide to Fruit Tree Sizing
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