Discovery is probably the most well-known early apple variety, ripening in late August. It is very easy to grow, and has excellent natural disease resistance.
Discovery is grown commercially on a small scale in the UK & Ireland. Discovery is definitely a variety that is better grown in the garden as it has a short shelf Life, and preferably eaten straight from the tree - although it will keep in a fridge for a week if necessary.
In some years there is a hint of strawberry flavour, which adds to the summery appeal.
Discovery also excels as a variety for juicing, as it produces a very well-balanced sweet/sharp juice
Discovery is very easy to grow. Being an early-season apple, it can ripen in a short growing season and is therefore a good choice for northern areas. It is also good choice for growers in areas of high rainfall. Although a very "English" apple, Discovery is known to be very cold-hardy, and able to tolerate temperatures much lower than those usually found in the UK.
A characteristic of Discovery is that the tree will often drop quite a lot of apples near maturity. It's best to wait a bit longer if you can, rather than taking this as a cue to start picking.
Discovery is also one of the best varieties for organic growers or gardeners who do not want to spray their trees - it has excellent natural disease resistance. The apples are invariably clean with a good finish.
Apple Type : Dessert
Flavour : Sweet/Sharp
Climate Suitability : Cold weather tolerant
Fruit picking time: August
Fruit size/colour: Medium sized red fruits
Pollination group: Group 3 (James Grieves, Irish Peach, Gala)