Spring 2024
Keepers NurseryThe UK's largest range of Fruit Trees
Tel. 01622 326465

Fiesta

A crisp, juicy, sweet apple with some Cox flavour which crops well and keeps extremely well.

Origin: Kent UK, 1972

Pollination: Fiesta is partially self-fertile and would produce some crop without a pollinator but would benefit considerably from a pollinator.  Pollination partners

We are now closed for the season. Ordering for winter 2024/25 will be enabled from Wednesday 1st May 2024.

History and description of Fiesta

Raised by Dr F Alston, East Malling Research Station, Kent, UK from Cox's Orange Pippin x Idared 1972. Received an Award of Merit from the RHS in 1987. Originally called Fiesta but attempts are now being made to popularise the new name Red Pippin. Grown commercially on a small scale in the UK.

Medium sized, flat-round fruit. Green skin ripening to yellow mostly covered by a crimson red flush. Very crisp and juicy white flesh. Slightly tough skin. Good sweet flavour. The literature often refers to Fiesta being similar to (and a good substitute for) Cox. This is misleading. Fiesta is much sweeter and only displays a hint of the strong aromatic flavour of Cox. It is nevertheless an excellent dessert apple in its own right. It keeps very well retaining its crispness but tending to lose its flavour in storage.

Small, compact tree suitable for crodons and espaliers. Partially self-fertile and heavy cropping. A very good garden variety.

Characteristics of Fiesta apple trees

UseDessert
ColourRed
FlavourSweet
Fruit sizeMedium
Picking timeLate Sep
Season of useOct-Mar
Tree vigourSmall
Tree habitSpreading
Fruit-bearingSpur-bearer
CroppingHeavy
Suitable forLate Frost
Northern Britain
Pollination date14
Pollination groupD
Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
PollinatorsPollination partners
ParentageCox's Orange Pippin
Idared