'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree
An incredible origin story!
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
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'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree
- There are origin stories... And then there's 'Bloody Ploughman'...
- The tale goes a little something like this: back in the 1800s, a Scottish ploughman was caught by a trigger-happy gamekeeper while scrumping apples from the Megginch Estate. The groundsman promptly put a bullet through the ploughman, ending his life.
- Combing through the dead man's clothes when his body was returned, the ploughman's wife found a few of the plundered apples stashed away within his pockets, which she discarded on the compost heap. From this, an apple seedling grew and went on to yield dark red, ribbed apples with stained pink flesh - and thus, 'Bloody Ploughman' was born!
- Did this actually happen? Who's to say, but why let truth get in the way of a good story, eh? 'Bloody Ploughman' apples have a delicate, mild flavour profile with just the right levels of sweetness, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including eating fresh, juicing and baking into scrummy, pink-tinged desserts.
- A vigorous grower that's well-suited to harsher conditions and planting in colder climes, 'Bloody Ploughman' yields its apples from the middle of September through to October. The fruit can also usually be stored for a couple of months; check out our article, Storing Apples Picked at Home, for more information on how to properly keep your harvested apples.
- Just to top everything off, this variety is also known for displaying great levels of disease resistance - it really is a tree that has everything going for it.
- Our trees are usually between 18 and 36 months old at the time of dispatch.
- Our trees are professionally pruned before dispatching. This formative pruning can involve cutting the main leader, if the expert tree growers decide this will produce a better shaped tree. This can stop the tree becoming "leggy", and promote stronger, bushier growth.
What to expect
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Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
The 'Bloody Ploughman' apple tree can be grown in a pot of at least 50 centimetres, provided it is on a dwarfing rootstock to manage its vigour.
How big does it get?
The Bloody Ploughman Apple Tree typically reaches a mature height of 3 to 4.5 metres and a spread of 3 to 4 metres, though this can be restricted by using dwarfing rootstocks.
How much sunlight does this need?
For optimal growth and fruit production, planting Bloody Ploughman Apple in a location that receives full sunlight, ideally at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun per day, is essential. It thrives in a warm, sunny position with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
The 'Bloody Ploughman' apple tree prefers well-drained, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
How much watering does this plant need?
The 'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree should receive approximately 2.5 to 5 centimetres of water weekly during the growing season.
Will this plant need pruning?
Yes, the 'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree will need pruning. Prune during the dormant winter months when temperatures are above 0 degrees Celsius, removing dead or crossing branches to maintain an open canopy.
How hardy is this plant?
The 'Bloody Ploughman' apple tree is fully hardy in all of the UK, holding an RHS hardiness rating of H6, which means it can withstand temperatures from -15°C to -20°C.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe
Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.
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