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Apple 'Spartan'

Hardy Tree

What is Hardy Tree?

An excellent pollinator for other apple trees

Deep maroon colour

Pollination Group 3 - Eating Apple

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Description How to Grow More Info Delivery
A juicy, refreshingly sweet apple that is instantly recognisable by its deep maroon colour. Apple 'Spartan' is also an excellent pollinator for other apple trees and so is extremely useful in any collection. Later to ripen than some varieties, the fruit will happily sit on the tree for two weeks or more before needing to be harvested, meaning you can spread out your picking and not end up with too many at once.
  • Apple rootstocks:
  • M27 - Extreme dwarf reaching a mature height of up to 1.5m (5')
  • M9/ Pajam 9/ P9 - Dwarf reaching a mature height of up to 2.5m (8')
  • M26 - Dwarf reaching a mature height of 2.5-3m (8-10')
  • M6 - Semi dwarf reaching a mature height of up to 3m (10')
  • MM106 - Semi dwarf reaching a mature height of up to 4m (13')

This variety is partially self-fertile. For the heaviest crops it is best grown with another variety. If you only have room for one tree then make sure that a neighbour has a tree close by that can act as a suitable pollinator.

Estimated time to cropping once planted: 2 years.
Estimated time to best yields: 5 years.

Useful links:

How to grow fruit trees Fruit rootstock guide

Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.

Flowering Months Harvest Months
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1 Bare Root Tree (MM111 Rootstock) (71127)

Plant apple trees in any well drained soil in a sheltered sunny position. Prior to planting, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost into the planting hole and drive the stake into the ground to support the tree. Staking after planting may result in damage to the root ball. Plant fruit trees at their original soil level and firm them into the ground. Fasten the tree to the stake using a tree tie, and water well.

These plants are lifted from the nursery field when dormant, and sent to you in late autumn or spring for planting. They often look dead on arrival, but they are just resting in the dormant period and will establish quickly for a strong start in the garden come spring. Set out in prepared soil in holes wide enough and deep enough to lay out the roots. Tread down the planting soil to knock out air pockets. Water well to settle. Apply a mulch to protect roots from cold temperatures. If conditions prevent immediate planting, set roughly into loose soil or a pot of compost (‘heeling in’) to protect the roots. Set these at the same level as they were in the nursery field – you should see a soil line at the base of the stem. Stake trees, taller shrubs and roses to prevent root disturbance.

Fruit trees do not suffer weed competition well. Keep weeds and grass clear from within a 30cm radius of base of the tree. In spring, while the ground is moist, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost around the base of the tree, taking care not to mound it up against the stem. This will help to retain moisture throughout the summer. Feed and water apple trees during particularly dry periods.

Pruning apple trees begins immediately after planting. Remove the central stem to just above the highest side branch. For the following 3 years, prune only the tips of the remaining main branches by one third in winter. Aim for about six main branches which will form the frame of your tree, with fruiting sub branches growing off of them. From the fourth year, some sub branches can be pruned out at the union where they join the main branch, to allow new sub branches to take their place.

In order to produce the best quality, largest apples, the fruits should be thinned in July leaving two apples remaining per cluster.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.

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