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Greensleeves

Greensleeves

Greensleeves is the result of an interesting experiment, crossing the crisp sweet flavors of Golden Delicious with the juicy acidity of the famous Scottish apple variety, James Grieve. The result is a mid-season apple that crops heavily and grows very easily.

The flavor is, as you might expect, simple and straightforward - basically sweet but quite a bit sharper than Golden Delicious. Even so, since Golden Delicious prefers a warmer climate than is found in much of the UK, Greensleeves can be considered as a reasonable substitute.

As with many varieties that have James Grieve in their parentage, Greensleeves is a notably juicy apple, and useful for juicing and cider.

Greensleeves apple trees for sale

  • 11-year maiden bare-root tree 33.45€
    M26 rootstock
    Medium size (2.5m-3m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
  • 21-year maiden bare-root tree 33.45€
    MM106 rootstock
    Large size (3m-4m after 10 years)
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How to grow

Greensleeves is one of the easiest apple varieties to grow, and is partially self-fertile, and this probably accounts for its steady popularity amongst gardeners.

Greensleeves is also a very good pollinator for other apple varieties because its blossom is unusually long-lasting (a quality it inherits from both Golden Delicious and James Grieve, which are both good pollinators).

History

A cross between Golden Delicious and James Grieve, developed at the famous East Malling Research Station in Kent, UK, in the 1960s.

Greensleeves characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersGoodAverage
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping1 week
  • Useful forEating freshJuice
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Climate typeTemperate climates
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Fruit colourGreen
  • AwardsRHS Award of Garden Merit