Saturn apple trees
- 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 our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.
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
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock£56.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeM26 rootstock£34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR21-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95< 5 in stock
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
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 31st March
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.
Recommended pollinators for Saturn apple trees
Saturn is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you will 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 >
ScrumptiousScrumptious is a modern award-winning early-season English dessert apple.
Red FalstaffRed Falstaff is one of the best garden apple trees, heavy crops, easy to grow, and very juicy.
Red DevilRed Devil is a good apple variety for the UK garden, and produces a sweet red-tinted juice.
SunsetSunset is a popular garden alternative to Cox, easier to grow, with a sweet aromatic flavour.
FiestaFiesta (or Red Pippin) is one of the best Cox-style apples, easy to grow, with a good aromatic flavour.
James GrieveJames Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
SpartanSpartan produces lots of crimson maroon apples, crunchy, sweet, easy to grow, delicate "vinous" flavour.
GreensleevesGreensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
History
Developed at East Malling, Kent. Introduced in 1997.
Saturn characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating freshJuice
- Disease resistanceGood
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Very resistant
- Powdery mildewSome resistance
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Blossom colourPink - light
- Fruit colourRed
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.
More about apple trees
For apples the mid-season period usually starts in early September and finishes later in September when the late-season varieties start arriving.
Mid-season apples are best eaten straight from the tree. However unlike early-season apples, they will usually keep fresh for a couple of weeks in a fridge. On the other hand, just like early apples, mid-season apples ripen quite quickly so be sure to keep a close watch on them in early September and see if they are ready to pick.
Another thing you notice with mid-season apples is they still have that fresh zing you get with the early varieties, but the flavours are now more nuanced and interesting.
Some really good apple varieties fall into this category - including Red Windsor, Red Devil, and Lord Lambourne. These are un-fussy apples with good flavours, ideal for taking to work for a mid-morning snack.
And the famous Cox's Orange Pippin also just about falls into this category.
