Dual-purpose apples

Dual-purpose apples are versatile and can be used for eating fresh or for cooking with.

Bardsey
A hardy disease-resistant apple, discovered growing on an island off the west coast of Wales.
£56.50buy
- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 2
Blenheim Orange
Blenheim Orange is a classic English dual-purpose apple, useful for dessert and culinary purposes.
£56.50 - £61.50buy
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Charles Ross
Charles Ross is a very attractive classic English dual-purpose apple.
£56.50 - £60.50buy
- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Coul Blush
Coul Blush is an early-season dual-purpose apple from Scotland.
- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 2
Crispin
Crispin (also known as Mutsu) is a high quality apple from Japan, with a good flavour, and also sharp enough for cooking.
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Eden®
A new dual-purpose apple which has a naturally non-browning flesh, ideal for salads and fresh apple juice.
£57.75 - £63.00buy
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 2
James Grieve
James Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
£56.50 - £61.50buy
- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Jumbo
A dual-purpose apple, named for the exceptionally large size of its fruits.
£60.50buy
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Katy
Katy is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
£56.50 - £60.50buy
- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
King of the Pippins
A popular and versatile dual-purpose apple, widely grown in the Victorian era.
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Lady Henniker
A well-regarded Victorian dual-purpose apple, easy to grow.
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
Orleans Reinette
Orleans Reinette is a traditional French apple variety, and remains popular for its old-fashioned flavour.
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
Pendragon
Pendragon is a red-fleshed dual-purpose apple from Cornwall.
- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 6
Ribston Pippin
A handsome English apple from the 18th century.
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Tickled Pink
A new red-fleshed apple variety, with attractive crimson blossom, also known as Baya® Marisa.
£57.75 - £63.00buy
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4

How to choose Dual-purpose apples

If space is limited these dual-purpose apples are well worth considering. Pick them slightly early to use in the kitchen, or let them ripen and you can eat them fresh.

Early-season dual-purpose apples include Katy and James Grieve, which are both sharp enough to use in pies and crumbles, but also pleasant for eating fresh (particularly if you like a sharper apple). Traditional English varieties like Blenheim Orange and Ribston Pippin come into their own later in the autumn.