Major Cider Apple Trees

Major Bittersweet Apple Trees

Anyone up for a bit of homebrewing? If so, a Major Apple Tree is definitely one to consider. The apples have that really full flavour beloved of cider aficionados that encompasses sweetness tempered by a bitterness to stop your cider becoming cloying and sickly. In practice what this means is that the apples are low in acid and high in tannins. Traditionally cider was made to the following proportions of cider apples: a third sweet, a third bittersweet and a third sharp.  Major is a bittersweet apple. The fruit is quite small with opaque white flesh and a yellowy green skin that overlaid by flushes of slightly stripy orange red colouring. Like all cider apples, the flesh is quite fibrous which makes it easier to juice.

Browse our range of apple trees or the full variety of fruit trees.

A Major Improvement to your Orchard

All apple trees look pretty in spring when clothed in blossom with their bright green leaves, so do not forget this additional benefit of indulging your brewing habit. But one of the real merits of this tree is that it does not need pruning and will continue to give you wonderful apples year after year without any interference at all. Which makes it a great host for a rambling rose by the way. When planting cider apples, it is important to consider the style of cider you want to make, and then splash out on appropriate cider soulmates. A good selection might be the sharp Browns Apple and the irresistibly named Sweet Coppin which could all combine well and would all pollinate each other.

Features

• Height: Half standards to 4.5m
• Use: Cider. Full bitter-sweet
• Pruning: Spur bearer
• Pollination: Self sterile
• Picking: Sept- Oct
• Apple colour: yellow flushed with red/orange
• Pollination Group: Group E

Have a look at our quick guide if you are new to brewing cider at home.

Did You Know?

A Devonshire cider tree, it used to be very popular in the orchards of South Devon and into Somerset many of which were ripped out as cider became less popular, and home-brewing with it. Now with the resurgence in interest in growing your own, and more orchards being re-planted, Major is one of the sought after varieties for its bittersweet qualities and vigour.

Clear and weed a circle at least 1m in diameter (and keep it weeded after planting your Major).

Make a square hole that is comfortably wider than the treebs roots but only 5 cm deeper. The hole should be at least 30cms from any wall.

Bang in a tree stake off centre and to the south west if the tree is free standing.

Soak the roots in water for at least an hour.

Mound a little soil in the bottom of the hole and settle the tree roots on it until the soil mark on the trunk is at the same level as the surrounding soil and/or the grafting scion is at least 5cms above soil level. Remove the tree, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole, wet the roots again to ensure good contact with the Rootgrow and return to the hole.

Backfill slowly, treading down gently as you go. Use a tree tie to attach your tree to the stake if freestanding.

Fit a treeguard. Water in with about 2 gallons/9 litres of water. Mulch the whole area. Water again the next day and then weekly afterwards through the first summer.