Chisel Jersey cider apple tree

• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 6
• Uses: Hard cider

Chisel Jersey is a traditional English hard cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.

Chisel Jersey is a traditional English hard cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.

Chisel Jersey is also one of the most cold-hardy of the English hard cider apple varieties, so a good choice for the northern states where winter temperatures fall much lower than is usual in England.

How to grow

Chisel Jersey can become somewhat biennial (fruiting in alternate years), if this starts to happen thin fruitlets heavily in the “on” year to even things out.

Chisel Jersey blooms exceptionally late, which means it doesn’t usually get damaged by late frosts, however this can make the blooms susceptible to fireblight.

History

Chisel Jersey originates from the traditional “west country” area of Somerset, England, and was known since the early 19th century.

Chisel Jersey characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group6
• Pollinating othersPoor
• PloidyDiploid
• Bearing regularityBiennial tendency
• WildlifeRHS Plants for Pollinators
• Picking seasonVery late
• UsesHard cider
• CroppingGood
• Juice styleBittersweet (cider)
• FireblightSome susceptibility
• MildewSome susceptibility
• Cold hardiness (USDA)(4) -30F / -34C
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Period of origin1800 – 1849
• Fruit colorOrange / Red