Kidd's Orange Red apple trees
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- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
Kidd's Orange Red is one of the select band of apple varieties which can truly be said to rival the definitive Cox's Orange Pippin for flavour. It is primarily a sweet apple, but unlike most sweet apples it has a rich complexity to the flavours too. Kidd's Orange Red is fairly crisp but also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour.
Kidd's Orange Red is a popular garden variety in the UK, so much so that it has come to be regarded as a typical 'English' apple. However it was actually raised in New Zealand at the start of the 20th century by J.H. Kidd, who was an enthusiast of the English Cox's Orange Pippin apple which is one of the parents of Kidd's Orange Red.
The tree grows attractively, and the crimson pink blossom is a particular feature - it has a rose-like scent too.
Although primarily an apple for eating fresh, Kidd's Orange Red also produces a high quality sweet apple juice, with a pleasing thick texture.
Kidd's Orange Red 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.
PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £56.50
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £56.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR21-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR42-year half-standard bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £46.50
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 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
It often seems that apples with the best flavor are the most difficult to grow, but this is not the case with Kidd's Orange Red. It is very easy to grow, generally problem-free, and makes an excellent garden variety for most regions, including cool temperate climates and warmer climates. It forms an attractive-looking tree with long branches which grow vertically when the tree is young but then bend over with fruit as the tree comes into bearing. (If necessary, tie the young branches towards the horizontal to improve the appearance - this will also help cropping). Certainly worth considering as a feature apple tree.
The only caveats are that the fruit ripens late in the season, and benefits from being planted in a sunny spot in the garden. It is not a heavy-cropper, although cropping is reliable.
Fruit size can be on the small size but this can be corrected by moderate thinning as the fruitlets start to form.
Kidd's Orange Red is a good choice if you are not keen on pruning, as its branches and fruiting spurs do not become congested as the tree ages.
History
Kidd's Orange Red was developed in the 1920s by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd. It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Delicious.
Kidd's Orange Red characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingLight
- Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
- Food usesEating freshJuice
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
- Fire blightSome resistance
- Country of originNew Zealand
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Blossom colourPink - dark
- Fruit colourOrange / Red
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
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.
