Spartan Apple tree

[Ren1]

Sorry - lots of idiot questions alert!!

I want to get a spartan apple tree for my husband's birthday and I know nothing about apple trees and what to look for.

Are they available to buy at this time of year? 
If I want one that will fruit this year, what type / age should I buy?  My very hasty search has come up with maidens, cordons, 1/2 standards..bare root ....????

Does anyone know of a good supplier in yorkshire / near leeds?

Is there anything else I should be looking out for if I find one?

Thanks in advance
Ren

[Ren1]

[PurpleHeather]

I can not tell you where to get the Spartan apple tree near to Leeds. I did google it but came up with little else than an orchard selling the fruit at £1.60 a kilo.

It looks, from my research to be a Canadian cross variety developed in the 1930s. Sweet white flesh with red skin.

I expect that it will be a 'tree' as we all know trees. Canadians have loads of space so probably do not bother with Cordons which can be trained to grow on the side of walls and there are minature varieties of some trees for the small garden.

If he is adamant that he wants this variety then it is a matter of finding a local garden centre who will get you one. You could pay around £50 or more for this.

Personally, I have grown several trees very well from the £4.99 ranges from the supermarkets. They have them in now. Aldi, Lidl especially, ready to plant straight away. It is worth a look.

Cox's Orange Pippin is a lovely variety, old English, they certainly have them and Bramley every one's favourite for baking.

You may well get some apples the first year after planting but it will take up to three years for a really good crop. 

Remember too when you give a tree as a gift, if you move house, you can not take the tree!

[mat]

York is not too far from Leeds... This place sells a "half standard" Spartan for £16

http://www.vertigrow.co.uk/plantsearch.php?cat=Fruit%20Trees&genus=Apple

If you do drive out here, avoid rush hour, as the roundabout on the A64 at York has major roadworks... its fine out of rush hour (and that includes rush hour all day to the coast on sunny weekends!)

I do not yet know this place, though I live fairly near.  I am going to pop over soon to take a look around.  I moved here a year ago, then immediately had a bad accident, so have only just started gardening again...  It looks a massive nursery from the road.

mat

[Dadnlad]

R V Rogers are in Pickering - and they still have some Spartan apples in various forms
Hope this helps

[Ren1]

Thank you, I will try and get out to these for a nosey next week. 

[davholla]

Thank you, I will try and get out to these for a nosey next week. 

Very important read up about rootstock :-
http://www.brogdale.org/chooserootstock.html
and pollination.

http://www.brogdale.org/choosepollination.html