About

Malus domestica 'Alfriston' is a cooking apple variety that yields medium to large fruits, typically irregular in shape. The apples exhibit a green to greenish-yellow coloration, accented by russet streaks and spots. These fruits have a good storage capacity, remaining viable for up to six months. Initially, the yellowish-white flesh has a sharp flavor, which gradually develops a hint of sweetness about three to four weeks post-harvest.

About the genus

Malus comprises small to medium-sized deciduous trees that display prominent blossoms in the spring and bear ornamental or edible fruit in the fall. Several species also exhibit attractive foliage during the autumn months.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Plant type

Fruit Edible, Trees

Habit

Columnar upright, Spreading branched

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

4-8 metres

Spread

4-8 metres

Time to full height

10-20 years

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation

Prefers deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in a sunny sheltered position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. May require fruit thinning to improve fruit size and quality. See apple cultivation

Pruning

Prune according to chosen training method. See apple pruning

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding in late summer, or grafting in mid-winter. Plants grown from pips are unlikely to resemble the parent

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews