Discovery apple trees
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- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Discovery is probably the most well-known early English apple variety, ripening in late August. It is very easy to grow, and has excellent natural disease resistance.
Discovery is grown commercially on a small scale in the UK, but it has a very short shelf-life, and shop-bought apples can be disappointing if not picked at exactly the right time. For this reason Discovery is definitely a variety that is better grown in the garden, and preferably eaten straight from the tree - although it will keep in a fridge for a week if necessary.
In some years there is a hint of strawberry flavour, which adds to the summery appeal.
Discovery also excels as a variety for juicing, as it produces a very well-balanced sweet/sharp juice
Discovery apple trees for sale
Pot-grown
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
PG1Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree M9 rootstock £60.50
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £56.50
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £56.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £61.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root tree M9 rootstock £38.25
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR2Spindlebush bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.00
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.75
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR4Cordon-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £46.25
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR51-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR62-year bush-trained bare-root tree M26 rootstock £43.00
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR71-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR82-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Next deliveries
Order now for delivery from week commencing 6th January.
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Discovery is very easy to grow. Being an early-season apple, it can ripen in a short growing season and is therefore a good choice for northern areas. It is a reliable cropper even as far north as Caithness.
It is also good choice for growers in areas of high rainfall. Although a very "English" apple, Discovery is known to be very cold-hardy, and able to tolerate temperatures much lower than those usually found in the UK.
A characteristic of Discovery is that the tree will often drop quite a lot of apples near maturity. It's best to wait a bit longer if you can, rather than taking this as a cue to start picking.
Discovery is also one of the best varieties for organic growers or gardeners who do not want to spray their trees - it has excellent natural disease resistance. The apples are invariably clean with a good finish.
History
Discovery is a seedling of another popular English early apple, Worcester Pearmain, found in Essex, UK, in 1949.
Discovery characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates
- Picking seasonEarly
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)1 week
- Food usesEating freshJuice
- Disease resistanceGood
- CankerSome resistance
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Very resistant
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourRed
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
Similar varieties
RosetteA pink-fleshed form of Discovery.
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
Find out more
Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions.
Find out more.
