Spring 2025Order your bare-root trees now whilst stocks last!
Tel. 01759 392007

Reverend W. Wilks apple trees

Reverend W. Wilks apples
Reverend W. Wilks is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 2

Reverend W. Wilks is a well-known English cooking apple, very much in the vein of the Victorian culinary apple tradition, although it was developed a bit later, in the early 1900s. It is thought to be derived from Ribston Pippin and Peasgood Nonsuch, both well-regarded English culinary apples.

Reverend W. Wilks ripens at the end of August and produces a well-flavoured tangy but sweet puree when cooked. The apples are large and juicy, but less sharp than some later-season cookers such as Bramley.

Reverend W. Wilks apple trees for sale

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeMM106 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.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 24th February.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Reverend W. Wilks is a good choice for anyone wanting an easy early-season cooker. It is easy to grow, heavy-cropping, reliably self-fertile, and has excellent natural disease-resistance. The tree is a compact grower.

The only issue to look out for is a tendency towards biennial-bearing - fruiting only every other year as it gets older. This can be addressed by heavy thinning of the fruitlets in early June of the "on" year.

Recommended pollinators for Reverend W. Wilks apple trees

Reverend W. Wilks is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Red Windsor
    Red Windsor
    Red Windsor is one of the easiest to grow of all dessert apple trees, and with a pleasant apple flavour.
  • Pollinator Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet
    Egremont Russet is the most popular English russet variety, and a good apple tree for the garden.
  • Pollinator Red Sentinel
    Red Sentinel
    Malus Red Sentinel has classic white blossom and a profusion of tiny scarlet persistent fruits.
  • Pollinator Greensleeves
    Greensleeves
    Greensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
  • Pollinator Bountiful
    Bountiful
    Bountiful is an easy-to-grow cooking apple, it retains its shape when cooked, fairly sweet for a cooker.
  • Pollinator Bardsey
    Bardsey
    A hardy disease-resistant apple, discovered growing on an island off the west coast of Wales.
  • Pollinator Pink Glow
    Pink Glow
    Malus Dolgo, also known as Pink Glow, offers early-season white flowers and very attractive dark pink fruits. It is exceptionally cold-hardy.
  • Pollinator Keswick Codlin
    Keswick Codlin
    Keswick Codlin is a popular early-season cooking apple, easy to grow, and productive in most climates.

History

Developed by Mr Veitch of Chelsea at the start of the 20th century, and quickly recognised by the RHS (it received an Award of Merit in 1904).


Reverend W. Wilks characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonEarly
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesCulinaryTraditional cooker

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood
  • CankerSome resistance
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
  • Powdery mildewSome resistance

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite

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

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.


Pages you viewed