The flavour of home-grown apples easily beats that of shop-bought varieties. What's more, a much greater variety of cultivars is available if you grow your own.
Apple trees are easy to grow and are available grafted on to a range of rootstocks, making them perfect for growing in any size of garden – some can even be grown in containers. There are thousands of cultivars to choose from, which typically fall into two categories: dessert (for eating) and cooking.
Choose from early fruiting varieties, which bear fruit in September and October, or late varieties, which produce apples in November. The early fruiting varieties don't store well and should be eaten straight away, while late-fruiting apples may be stored to eat over winter.
Apple trees benefit from growing in a sheltered, sunny spot, where the blossom will attract the greatest variety of pollinators and where the sun will ripen the fruit. Mulch annually and water in dry spells.
Malus 'Benenden Early' is an attractive, early apple, bearing round, irregular, ribbed fruit with red stripes over a green-yellow skin.
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Plant
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Flowers
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Fruits
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Prune
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Malus ‘Benenden early’ and wildlife
Malus ‘Benenden early’ is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat and has seeds for birds.
Is known to attract Bees
Bees
Is known to attract Beneficial insects
Beneficial insects
Is known to attract Birds
Birds
Is known to attract Butterflies/Moths
Butterflies/Moths
Is known to attract Other pollinators
Other pollinators
Is Malus ‘Benenden early’ poisonous?
Malus ‘Benenden early’ causes an upset stomach and is harmful if ingested. Its seeds are toxic.
