Ashmeads Kernel

Ashmead’s Kernal is an ancient apple dating back to the early 1700’s when it was first grown from a pip by Dr Ashmead who lived near Gloucester. It did not become popular until the middle of the 19th century when it was greatly appreciated because of its complex flavour but in the first half of the 20th century it fell into obscurity. However, it won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 for its outstanding flavour.

Ashmead’s Kernal is a dessert apple, also used for juicing and cider. The tree is slow growing and may take 3 to 4 years before bearing fruit. Pollination can be erratic and it will benefit from having other good pollinating varieties nearby from groups 3, 4 and 5. The tree is not a regular cropper: on a good year it can make a bumper crop and on a bad year with a cold spring the harvest can be disappointing.

The apples can be harvested in October and will keep until February. The apple is said to be not very attractive, being often small, misshapen and lumpy! The colour is a dull yellow green and considered one of the russet apples. The flesh is firm and juicy with a distinctive flavour described as “having a crisp nutty snap, exploding with champagne-sherbet juice infused with a lingering scent of orange blossom”! The fruit becomes sweeter the longer they are kept.