Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Saturn apple trees

Saturn apples
Check pollinators >
Saturn is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

Saturn is a good new English apple, developed by the famous East Malling Research Station and released 1997. It has all the best qualities of a modern apple - an attractive sweet/ flavour with a tangy edge to it, clean appearance, and crisp flesh.

The main parentage is Golden Delicious - not a popular variety in the UK, but it is the attractive crisp textured flesh that is inherited by Saturn, not the rather bland sweet flavour. Instead Saturn seems to gets its balanced sprightly flavour from Jonathan, a well-regarded 19th century American apple with an altogether more interesting and complex flavour.

It is also disease-resistant and heavy-cropping.

Saturn 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 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)
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

Saturn is typical of modern apple varieties in that it has a complex parentage which includes natural disease resistance (often found in crab-apples). As a result it is a good choice for gardeners who want to grow apples without spraying.

Some authorities state that Saturn is self-fertile, but this is not documented by the developers of this variety. We think it is best to assume that it requires a pollination partner to ensure it sets a good crop. Overall it is an excellent variety for the garden or community orchard.

History

Developed at East Malling, Kent. Introduced in 1997.


Saturn characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climatesWarm climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating freshJuice

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Very resistant
  • Powdery mildewSome resistance

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Blossom colourPink - light
  • Fruit colourRed

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

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
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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.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.