Kidd's Orange Red

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Kidd's Orange Red is one of the select band of apple varieties which can truly be said to rival the definitive Cox's Orange Pippin for flavour. It is primarily a sweet apple, but unlike most sweet apples it has a rich complexity to the flavors too. Kidd's Orange Red is fairly crisp but also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour. It's in some ways reminiscent of a good French dessert wine - sweet, but with a good kick to it.

The tree grows attractively, and the crimson pink blossom is a particular feature.

Although primarily a dessert apple, Kidd's Orange Red also produces a very pleasant sweet apple juice.

Kidd's Orange Red is grown commercially on a small scale, and the fruit is sometimes available from farmers markets.

Kidd's Orange Red apple trees for sale (2009/10 season)

Delivery to the mainland UK (price includes delivery)

Item	Quantity
Small - 1-year 3L container - M9 rootstock	£30.00

Medium - 1-year Bare-root - M26 rootstock	£30.00

Medium - 2-year 12L container - M26 rootstock	No stock £38.00

Large - 1-year Bare-root - MM106 rootstock	No stock £30.00
Captain Kidd Large - 1-year Bare-root - MM106 rootstock	£30.00

Captain Kidd Large - 1-year 3L container - MM106 rootstock	£30.00
Large - 2-year 12L container - MM106 rootstock	£38.00

More about: Product formats, Bare-root or Container-grown, Delivery Rootstocks

All prices include delivery. We offer a discount on orders of multiple bare-root trees for delivery at the same time - this will be shown at the checkout.

We accept orders year-round, but delivery is only possible in the stated delivery periods.

Uses

Flavour quality - Exceptional
Flavour style - Aromatic
Good for eating fresh
Good for juice
Picking season - Late
Use / keeping - 1-2 months
Will keep in a cold store until Christmas

Growing

Cropping - Light
Fertility - Self-sterile
Flowering group - 3
Gardening skill - Easy
Disease resistance - Average
Not usually troubled by scab or mildew
Vigour - Average growth
Attractive blossom

Climate

Suitable for temperate climates
Tolerates cold winters
Suitable for N. England? - Yes

Pollination partners for Kidd's Orange Red

Kidd's Orange Red is in flowering group 3. It is self-sterile and needs a pollination partner nearby. The following varieties will pollinate Kidd's Orange Red:

Important: advice about pollination

Horticultural characteristics of Kidd's Orange Red apple trees

It often seems that apples with the best flavor are the most difficult to grow, but this is not the case with Kidd's Orange Red. It is very easy to grow, generally problem-free, and makes an excellent garden variety for most regions, including cold temperate climates. It forms an attractive-looking tree with long branches which grow vertically when the tree is young but then bend over with fruit as the tree comes into bearing. (If necessary, tie the young branches towards the horizontal to improve the appearance - this will also help cropping).

The only caveats are that the fruit ripens late in the season, and may not always ripen in a poor temperate summer, and it is not a heavy-cropper (although it does produce a good crop). Fruit size can be on the small size so moderate thinning can be helpful as the fruitlets start to form.

Certainly worth considering as a feature apple tree. In cool temperate climates, plant in a sunny aspect to help develop the fruit color.

Historical details

Kidd's Orange Red was developed in the 1920s by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd. It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Delicious (as in Red Delicious) - a marriage of the Old World and the New World. Captain Kidd is a 'sport' with a stronger red colour but identical in other respects.

More information

More information and discussion about Kidd's Orange Red apple trees on the main Orange Pippin website.

Kidd's Orange Red - Fruit

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Kidd's Orange Red - Blossom

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Example trees as supplied (container-grown only)

This is an illustration of what our products look like as delivered. Please remember that trees are natural products, so this information is for general guidance only. The trees you receive may differ from those shown here, for some of the following reasons:

Many of these photos were taken in early autumn - trees delivered during winter will not have leaves.
There can be a considerable size variation between different varieties of the same species.
Some varieties naturally "feather" or produce many side branches at an early age. Others may not feather at all.
In some cases we may have to "tip" the tops of trees to fit in our delivery cartons. Please do not be alarmed, as this will be carried out immediately prior to despatch, and is actually good practice when planting a new tree.

For comparison purposes the model in our photos is 5ft 6" / 1m 68cm tall. Click any of the images to view a larger one.