A culinary variety which dates from the 1600’s no less, and which was quite famous in the Midlands circa the 19th C. An unmistakeable variety.
Catshead Apple tree – Season:
Harvest Catshead in early October, the fruits will store in good condition until January.
Catshead Apple - appearance:
Medium to large, blocky with slight protuberances on the upper side; viewed in profile it is possible to imagine the shape of a cats head. Bright green, yellowing slightly with age, onlt the occasional bronze flush.
Catshead apple trees – flavour:
Cooks to a not too wet puree. Flavour is good, fruity and powerful. Very good for dumplings, pies and sauces as well as freezing.
Uses:
Exclusively a culinary apple. Excels for purees, pies, dumplings and freezing.
Cropping & Growth
Moderately vigorous to vigorous, an attractive somewhat spreading tree that is largely trouble free & hardy.
Catshead - Pollination: ‘B’ Pollination group, so use varieties with the same or adjacent pollinating prefixes. Good pollinating varieties for this variety are:
Bountiful
Arthur Turner
Beauty of Bath
Brownlees Russet
Alkmene
Carlisle Codlin
Tree sizes for Catshead apple trees:
M27 is a miniature stock, ideal for very small gardens, pots on the patio etc. Grows to around 180cm’s. Good hearty soil is preferred.
M9 is classed as dwarfing and a good intermiate stock. Matures to 200cm’s plus with a similar spread. M9 is heavy cropping and promotes larger fruits, but needs permanent staking and good soil.
M26 stock Is classed as semi-dwarfing. Does well on poorer soil. Reaches 300cm’s+ with the same spread.
MM106 is vigorous and the best choice for where a larger ‘orchard sized’ tree is required. Grows 4m+ with the same spread and suitable for most soils.
