Spartan Apple Tree

Apple Spartan is an unusual deep red/purple skinned apple with white flesh. The fruit is juicy and crisp and eats like a green apple with a satisfying crunch. The flavour is sweet and a note of honeyed wine is often apparent.  As well as being a tasty eating apple, Spartan makes a good juice.

Adorned with pretty pale pink to white spring flowers followed by burgundy fruits, Spartan is a particularly attractive apple tree. From Canada in 1926, Apple Spartan is a tough tree for Northern and less favourable areas. It will produce heavy, reliable crops of medium sized apples in early October. Pollination is required by another apple in group A, B or C situated within a half mile radius.

• Use: Eating Apple
• Cropping period: Mid season (Early October)
• Keeping period: 3 months
• Flavour: Sweet, juicy
• Latin name: Malus domestica 'Spartan'
• Heritage: Canada 1926
• Pollination group: B
• Height in 10 years*: M9 2.0-2.5m, M26 2.5-3m, MM106 4-5m

*Indication of the un-pruned height of this variety of apple tree on different rootstocks in 10 years. Variations will occur due to geography, pruning etc.

Planting Advice For Spartan Apple Trees

Spartan is a group B apple tree and requires a suitable pollinator within a 1/2 mile radius. Apple trees should be spaced according to their rootstock, for example an MM106 (semi-vigorous) rootstock will require approx. 4.5 metres between trees, whereas an M27 (very dwarf) rootstock will require approx. 1.5 metres between trees.

Our pot grown apple trees can be planted at any time of the year but bare root ones need to be planted between November and March. Remove weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole then dig a hole slightly deeper than your root mass and approximately 3x as wide. To help your tree establish more effectively, apply root grow. Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Make sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend planting fruit trees using a stake and tie and a rabbit guard.

The Apple Tree Planting, Pruning & Care guide has more detailed information, along with videos on planting trees and using stakes and ties.

Watering & Aftercare Advice For Spartan Trees

If you’re planting in spring or summer, water well and regularly for the first few months. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little. It is important to keep an eye on young fruit trees and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. Keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. The Apple Tree guide linked to above provides further advice.

Pruning Advice For Spartan Apple Trees

Pruning young apple trees for the first few years after planting ensures a healthy, goblet-like shape. Your tree should have one central leader and several side shoots. Straight after planting, you can remove the lowest laterals. Prune back other branches by between a third and half their length.

In the following years, remove any shoots growing out of the trunk to maintain a clear stem. Also remove any crossing, diseased or damaged branches. If your tree is looking overcrowded, remove some of the larger branches to open up the canopy. This type of pruning should be carried out between November and March. The Apple Tree guide linked to above provides detailed pruning advice.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.