Howgate Wonder Apple Tree: Big Flavour, Bigger Fruit

Malus domestica

The Howgate Wonder apple is a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for a large, reliable, and flavourful cooking apple. This impressive apple tree produces exceptionally large fruit, perfect for baking, juicing, and making apple sauce. Whether you have a spacious orchard or a small garden, the Howgate Wonder apple tree is a rewarding addition. This article explores everything you need to know about growing, caring for, and enjoying this remarkable apple variety.

The Howgate Wonder apple is a classic British cooking apple with a rich history. Introduced in 1932, it is a cross between Blenheim Orange and Newton Wonder, two famous apple varieties known for their superb cooking qualities. The Howgate Wonder is appreciated for its large fruit, which can reach up to 1kg in weight, making it one of the biggest apples available.

This culinary apple holds its shape when cooked, creating delicious pies, crumbles, and tarts. Unlike many other cooking apples, it has a pleasant flavour that balances sweetness and acidity, making it suitable for eating fresh when fully ripened.

There are many reasons to consider planting a Howgate Wonder apple tree in your garden:

• Produces large fruit – Ideal for cooking and juicing.

• Long storage life – Apples can be stored for months in the right conditions.

• Reliable crops – Provides regular harvests with the proper care.

• Versatile use – Great for cooking, juicing, and eating fresh.

• Award-winning variety – Recognised with the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

This vigorous apple tree thrives in a sheltered, sunny position with well-drained soil. It grows best when given plenty of space and can reach up to 4m in height on certain rootstocks. For smaller gardens, selecting a dwarf rootstock like M26 or MM106 will help control growth.

1. Prepare the planting hole – Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball.
2. Improve the soil – Mix in well-rotted manure for nutrients.
3. Position the tree so the graft point remains above the soil.
4. Backfill and firm down – Ensure the roots are well covered.
5. Stake and water well – Support and hydrate during the dormant period.

The Howgate Wonder is not self-fertile and needs a compatible pollination partner to produce fruit. It belongs to pollination group 4, which means it should be planted near other apple trees in group 3 or 4 for successful pollination. Good partners include Bramley, Newton Wonder, and Blenheim Orange. Please check out my article here for more information on Apple pollinating groups.

Expect beautiful pink-white blossom in spring, attracting bees and other pollinators. Strong flowering ensures good fruit set later in the growing season.

Regular pruning helps maintain shape, encourages healthy growth, and improves fruit production.

• Winter pruning (dormant period) – Remove dead or overcrowded branches.

• Summer pruning – Thin out excessive growth to allow sunlight penetration.

• Stake young trees – Support their growth, especially in windy areas.

• Water well during dry spells, especially for young trees.
• Mulch around the base to retain moisture.
• Feed with a balanced fertiliser in early spring.

The fruit ripens in autumn, usually by October, and can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months. Their firm texture makes them ideal for long-term storage.

• Cooking apple – Perfect for pies, crumbles, and sauces.

• Juice and cider – Produces a rich, tangy juice.

• Eating fresh – Can be enjoyed raw when fully ripe.

If you want to grow this excellent fruit tree, you can buy it online from specialist nurseries. Look for bare-root trees in winter or potted varieties year-round. Ensure you select the right rootstock for your garden size.

• Bare root or potted—Bare root trees are best for winter planting, while potted trees can be planted at any time.

• Select the right rootstock – M26 for smaller gardens, MM106 for medium size, and vigorous rootstocks for larger spaces.

If you love a proper British cooking apple, the Howgate Wonder is hard to beat. I’ve always admired this variety for its sheer size — there’s something incredibly satisfying about harvesting apples nearly the size of a small melon! Even though I’m not currently growing, I’ve cooked with Howgate Wonder apples before, and they’re brilliant in crumbles and pies. They hold their shape well, and the balance of sharpness and sweetness gives dishes proper homemade depth of flavour. I also rate it highly for juicing — one or two apples go a long way. Suppose you’ve got space for a tree that delivers in the kitchen, this one’s well worth planting. It’s a dependable cropper, stores nicely, and adds a sense of abundance to the autumn harvest.

• The Howgate Wonder apple tree produces large, versatile fruit, perfect for cooking, juicing, and eating fresh
• It is partially self-fertile but benefits from a pollination partner in group 4
• Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil for best results
• Regular pruning, watering, and feeding improve tree health and fruit production
• Apples are ready for harvesting in autumn and can be stored for months
• Buy online or from specialist nurseries, choosing the right rootstock for your space

Growing a Howgate Wonder apple tree is a rewarding experience. It provides delicious fruit and is a beautiful addition to your garden. With the right care, this impressive culinary apple will thrive, delivering regular crops of apples for years to come!

To see the RHS article, please click here.

Want to learn about other apple varieties? Read about Apple Granny Smith here.

For more information on Fruit for your garden, please click here.

Q: What is the Howgate Wonder Apple Tree?

A: The Howgate Wonder Apple Tree is a well-known culinary apple variety, prized for its exceptionally large fruit with red and green stripes. First introduced in 1932, it remains a favourite for cooking due to its ability to hold its shape when baked or stewed.

Q: Where can I buy a Howgate Wonder Apple Tree?

A: Howgate Wonder Apple Trees are available from garden centres and online nurseries specialising in fruit trees. When you purchase, please choose a healthy tree that suits your growing conditions.

Q: What pollination group does the Howgate Wonder Apple Tree belong to?

A: The Howgate Wonder Apple Tree is in pollination group 4, which benefits from cross-pollination with other apple trees that flower simultaneously, such as Blenheim Orange or Newton Wonder.

Q: Is the Howgate Wonder Apple good for cooking?

A: Absolutely! The Howgate Wonder is a culinary apple, perfect for pies, sauces, crumbles, and other cooked dishes. It holds its shape well when baked, making it a reliable choice for the kitchen.

Q: What soil type is best for growing Howgate Wonder?

A: These trees thrive in well-drained soil enriched with well-rotted organic matter. Good soil structure and nutrients will help ensure healthy growth and an abundant harvest.

Q: Can I grow a Howgate Wonder in my garden?

A: Yes! The Howgate Wonder Apple Tree can be grown successfully in gardens with enough space and the right soil conditions. It prefers a sunny position for the best fruit production.

Q: How large do Howgate Wonder apples grow?

A: Howgate Wonder apples are significantly larger than most other apple varieties. Their impressive size makes them ideal for those who enjoy large, juicy apples for cooking or juicing.

Q: Does Howgate Wonder require a lot of maintenance?

A: Not particularly! Once established, they are relatively low-maintenance. Regular watering, pruning, and monitoring for pests and diseases will help keep the tree healthy and productive.

Q: Has Howgate Wonder received any awards?

A: Yes! The Howgate Wonder Apple has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit, recognising its excellent qualities as a reliable and productive fruit tree.

Q: How can I get the best juice from my Howgate Wonder?

A: To maximise juice extraction, pick the apples when fully ripe. Their large size and high juice content make them ideal for juicing, often yielding a good litre of fresh, flavourful apple juice per batch.