Malus domestica 'Kingston Black' (Cider/C)
apple 'Kingston Black'
'Kingston Black' is a cider apple, with a bittersharp flavour, producing full-bodied cider with a distinctive flavour. The relatively small fruit is pale yellow, heavily-flushed with dark red, ready to pick in November, and prone to poor crops. It is self-sterile; pollination group 3-4
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | Red | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Is more tolerant than eating apples, but still prefers a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. See apple cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by grafting in midwinter or budding in late summer. Fruit grown from pips will not resemble the parent
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Pruning group 1 after initial training as a standard tree is completed See apple pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid and rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars
Diseases
May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews
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