Garden

Malus domestica 'James Grieve' (D)

Malus domestica 'James Grieve'

An early dessert apple with yellow-green fruit striped orange-red and a delicate texture.

Care notes by theboxerge Updated October 15, 2026

About this plant

An early-season apple that offers both eating and cooking uses, depending on ripeness. The fruit bruises readily, so it suits a grower able to pick carefully and use the crop without rough handling.

Care at a glance

Light: A sunny, sheltered position gives the best cropping.
Watering: Water young trees in dry spells; soak the root area and let excess water drain.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil; avoid a persistently wet planting hole.

Plan your care

Decide on the rootstock before buying: the cultivar name alone does not tell you how large the tree will become. A trained tree and a free-standing tree also need different space and pruning plans.

This is a flowering group 3 apple. Check overlap with a suitable pollinating apple nearby. Keep grass and weeds clear of the young trunk, and inspect crowded fruit clusters so that developing apples have room.

Growing tips

Lift and twist ripe fruit gently rather than pulling hard on the branch. Separate damaged fruit from sound apples; bruised fruit is better used promptly than put into storage.