Apple Tree “Boskoop” Bare Root 160-180cm — Pre-Order for October - November Delivery

Pre-Order Now for October - November 2026 Delivery

Grow one of Europe’s most famous traditional cooking apples with our premium Boskoop Apple Tree. Renowned for its exceptionally rich flavour, large fruit and excellent storage quality, Boskoop has been a favourite among gardeners and cooks for generations.

This premium bare root apple tree produces large green-red apples with firm, juicy flesh and a rich aromatic tart flavour. Boskoop is widely regarded as one of the finest apples for pies, crumbles, baking, sauces, juice and traditional home cooking.

Available in two sizes:

* 160-180 cm (Bare Root Tree)
* 180–250 cm (Bare Root Tree)

Grafted onto MM106 rootstock, Boskoop develops a strong root system and is perfectly suited to Irish gardens and orchards, producing reliable crops for many years.

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Tree Specifications

* Type: Bare Root Apple Tree
* Variety: Boskoop
* Rootstock: MM106
* Available Heights:
    * 90–120 cm 
    * 180–250 cm 
* Mature Height: Approximately 3.5–4.5 m
* Growth Habit: Vigorous and Productive
* Fruit Colour: Green-Red
* Flesh: Firm, Juicy and Aromatic
* Taste: Rich, Tart and Full of Flavour
* Best Use: Cooking, Baking, Juice & Cider
* Harvest Season: October
* Storage: Excellent Winter Storage
* Climate Suitability: Excellent for Irish Growing Conditions

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Why Choose Boskoop Apple?

Boskoop is one of Europe’s finest heritage cooking apples, producing premium-quality fruit with exceptional flavour and outstanding versatility.

Benefits

* Traditional heritage apple variety
* Large, high-quality fruit
* Rich aromatic flavour
* Excellent for pies, crumbles and baking
* Perfect for sauces, juice and cider
* Reliable heavy cropper
* Stores well through winter
* Strong vigorous growth
* Ideal for Irish gardens and orchards

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Growing Information

Boskoop Apple Trees thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position. Regular watering during the first growing season encourages strong root development, while annual pruning promotes healthy growth and consistent fruit production.

This variety performs exceptionally well in Ireland and is well suited to home gardens and traditional orchards.

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Bare Root Tree Advantages

Our Boskoop Apple Trees are supplied as premium bare root trees during the dormant planting season with strong, healthy root systems.

Bare root trees offer many advantages:

* Excellent value for money
* Fast establishment
* Strong root development
* Ideal for autumn and winter planting
* Reliable long-term productivity

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Pre-Order & Delivery

Available now for pre-order.

Delivery takes place during the September 2026 planting season, when bare root trees are dormant and ready for successful establishment.

We deliver nationwide across Ireland, and every tree is carefully packed to ensure it arrives healthy, protected and ready for planting.

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Important Information

Fruit production, flowering and harvest times may vary depending on weather conditions, pollination, soil quality, planting location and ongoing care.

Luxara World Green guarantees that every bare root tree is supplied as healthy, high-quality planting stock, professionally grown and carefully inspected before dispatch.

Cultivar Overview

‘Belle de Boskoop’ is a renowned Dutch heritage apple introduced in the mid-19th century and widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest culinary apples. It is celebrated for its large fruit, rich aromatic flavour and excellent keeping quality. Although traditionally grown as a cooking apple, the fruit develops a pleasantly balanced flavour after storage, making it equally suitable for fresh eating. It is particularly well adapted to the cool, moist climate of Ireland.  

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Rootstock

MM106

Why We Selected MM106

At Luxara World, ‘Belle de Boskoop’ is grafted onto MM106, a semi-vigorous rootstock offering an excellent balance between tree size, productivity and long-term orchard performance.

Benefits

* Semi-vigorous growth habit
* Strong root establishment and good anchorage
* Reliable cropping
* Well suited to Irish soils
* Easy to maintain and harvest
* Excellent longevity

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Mature Tree Size

Approximately 3.5–4.5 metres in height and spread.

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Planting Distance

* 4–4.5 metres between trees
* 4.5–5 metres between rows

Proper spacing promotes light penetration, air circulation and consistent fruit quality.

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Site Selection

‘Belle de Boskoop’ performs particularly well in Ireland’s cool, temperate climate.

Choose a planting site with:

* At least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily
* Fertile, well-drained soil
* Good air circulation
* Shelter from strong prevailing winds
* Avoidance of frost pockets where possible

Unlike many dessert apples, ‘Belle de Boskoop’ performs reliably in cooler regions with higher rainfall.  

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Soil Requirements

‘Belle de Boskoop’ on MM106 performs best in:

* Fertile loam or clay-loam
* Soil pH 6.0–7.2
* Soil rich in organic matter
* Moist but well-drained conditions

Avoid prolonged winter waterlogging.

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Pollination

Self-fertility

‘Belle de Boskoop’ is not self-fertile.

In addition, it is a triploid cultivar, meaning its pollen is not effective for pollinating other apple varieties. It must be planted with two compatible diploid pollinating varieties flowering at the same time.  

Pollination Group

Group 3 (Mid-season)

Recommended Pollinators

* James Grieve
* Discovery
* Gala
* Elstar
* Cox’s Orange Pippin

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Flowering Period

Mid-season.

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Harvest Period

Late September to October.

Fruit stores exceptionally well and develops a fuller, sweeter flavour after several weeks in storage, remaining in excellent condition through winter.  

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Fruit Characteristics

Fruit Size

Large to very large

Typically 180–250 g

Skin

Green-yellow with an orange-red flush and characteristic russeting.

Flesh

* Creamy white
* Firm
* Coarse textured
* Juicy

Flavour

Rich, aromatic and pleasantly sharp when freshly harvested, mellowing during storage.

Excellent for:

• Cooking
•  Apple pies
•  Baking
• Apple sauce
•  Juice
•  Fresh eating after storage

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Disease & Weather Performance

‘Belle de Boskoop’ is recognised for:

* Excellent adaptation to cool, humid climates
* Reliable cropping
* Strong winter hardiness
* Good storage performance

Annual dormant pruning helps maintain an open canopy, improving light penetration and reducing disease pressure.

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Why We Selected ‘Belle de Boskoop’

At Luxara World, we selected ‘Belle de Boskoop’ grafted onto MM106 because it is one of the finest heritage apples for Irish growing conditions. Its exceptional flavour, excellent storage potential and dependable performance in cooler climates make it an outstanding choice for home gardeners and traditional orchards.

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Professional Growing Advice

As a triploid variety, ‘Belle de Boskoop’ should always be planted alongside at least two compatible diploid apple cultivars to ensure reliable pollination. Regular summer thinning of developing fruit will improve fruit size, enhance colour and help maintain consistent annual cropping, while winter pruning encourages the development of productive fruiting spurs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Belle de Boskoop Apple Tree

1. Is Belle de Boskoop Apple self-fertile?

No. Belle de Boskoop is not self-fertile and requires a compatible apple tree nearby for successful pollination. Planting a suitable pollination partner will ensure reliable crops and better fruit quality.

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2. Which apple trees pollinate Belle de Boskoop?

Belle de Boskoop flowers in the mid-season and benefits from compatible pollination partners.

Excellent pollination partners include:

* James Grieve
* Cox’s Orange Pippin
* Elstar
* Discovery
* Gala

Growing compatible apple varieties together increases fruit production, improves fruit quality and extends the apple harvesting season.

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3. Why is Belle de Boskoop Apple so popular?

Belle de Boskoop is one of Europe’s classic heritage apple varieties. It is prized for its exceptionally rich flavour, excellent cooking qualities and impressive storage life. It has been a favourite with gardeners and cooks for over 150 years.

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4. What do Belle de Boskoop apples taste like?

Belle de Boskoop apples have a distinctive rich, tangy flavour with firm flesh. When fully ripe they develop more sweetness, making them suitable for both fresh eating and cooking. They are especially popular for pies, crumbles, sauces and baking.

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5. When is Belle de Boskoop ready to harvest?

Belle de Boskoop is a late-season apple, usually harvested from October, depending on local weather conditions. The apples store exceptionally well and often improve in flavour after a few weeks in storage.

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6. How long does it take for a Belle de Boskoop Apple tree to produce fruit?

Most Belle de Boskoop trees begin producing fruit within 2–4 years after planting, depending on the rootstock, growing conditions and ongoing care.

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7. How large will a Belle de Boskoop Apple tree grow?

The mature size depends on the rootstock. Please refer to the product specifications for the expected height and spread. Choosing the appropriate rootstock allows the tree to fit gardens of different sizes.

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8. Where is the best place to plant a Belle de Boskoop Apple tree?

Belle de Boskoop grows best in a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil. Plenty of sunlight encourages better fruit quality and reliable annual harvests.

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9. Is Belle de Boskoop suitable for small gardens?

Yes. When grafted onto a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock, Belle de Boskoop is suitable for small and medium-sized gardens while still producing excellent crops.

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10. Is Belle de Boskoop Apple easy to grow?

Yes. Belle de Boskoop is a vigorous and dependable variety. With regular watering during dry periods, annual pruning and a compatible pollination partner, it is rewarding and relatively easy to grow.

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11. Is Belle de Boskoop resistant to diseases?

Belle de Boskoop has good resistance to many common apple diseases and performs particularly well in cooler climates. Good pruning and air circulation help keep the tree healthy and productive.

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12. Can I grow Belle de Boskoop Apple in a container?

Young trees grafted onto dwarf rootstocks can be grown successfully in large containers. For long-term health and maximum fruit production, planting in the ground is recommended.

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13. What will I receive when I order?

You will receive a healthy, container-grown Belle de Boskoop Apple tree that has been professionally cultivated and carefully packed to protect the roots and branches during transport.

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14. Do you deliver apple trees throughout Ireland?

Yes. We carefully package every tree before dispatch to help ensure it arrives safely, healthy and ready for planting anywhere in Ireland.

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15. Why should I choose Belle de Boskoop Apple?

Belle de Boskoop is an outstanding heritage apple renowned for its rich flavour, exceptional cooking qualities and excellent storage life. If you’re looking for a traditional variety that performs well in the Irish climate and provides delicious apples throughout autumn and winter, Belle de Boskoop is an excellent choice.