Mac Reds?

[Snadger]

One of my favourite eating apples is the Mac (Mackintosh) Red which I can only buy from a local fruiterer. Tesco's never seem to have any so I thought about planting a tree of my own and either training it as a cordon to join the others I have set up along a fenceline or as a single espalier on its own.

What I would really like to know is a)Where I can get one (bare rooted preferably? b) Will it survive in NE England? c) Will it be suitable for espalier or cordon training?

[FB.]

a)Where I can get one (bare rooted preferably?

b) Will it survive in NE England?

c) Will it be suitable for espalier or cordon training?

a
Link 1 (sold out until next year)
(but maybe they are able to provide scion wood for graft-your-own?)

b
Yes, McIntosh and similar types are particularly good for harsh winters.

c
Yes, just don't go for a rootstock that is too vigorous. MM106 (espalier) or M26 (cordon). Big espalier or really poor soil: MM111.

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However, have you considered some of the other "American Reds" as I call them?

Spartan is excellent (does very wll for me) and reasonably easy to find - deep red colour, quite sweet, melon-like taste with a hint of strawberry. Good resistance to pests/diseases.

Link to Red Delicious (sold out until next year)

Link to Red Delicious

Link to Empire

I would also be cautious about whether some of the "American Reds" will ripen in the UK.

[FB.]

I just looked through a few books and as I suspected; many of the "American Reds" don't ripen well in the UK - descriptions of UK-grown fruit include "metallic" "woody".
The North could be especially problematic.
A slightly earlier flowering rootstock such as MM106 would give the trees a slightly longer growing season, on account of MM106's influence on trees to flower about a week early and go dormant for the winter about a week late.
Frost damage of the blossoms might be a problem, but Spartan's flowers will tolerate light frosts at blossom time.
Based on that, I'd lean towards Spartan on MM106, although not ideal - but probably the best chance of getting close to what you want.

What is it about McIntosh Red that you really like?
Perhaps there are some UK varieties that would be a reasonable substitute.

[Snadger]

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What is it about McIntosh Red that you really like?
Perhaps there are some UK varieties that would be a reasonable substitute.

Thanks FB, I kinda thought you might come along with a concise answer!

I like them because of their taste, texture,crunchiness,thin skin and probably a whole lot more intangibles if the truth was known. Lol

I think Canada is one of the main growing areas for them and it does get rather cold in Canada but its a dry cold, not like the damp NE cold!

Knowing my luck they will probably be triploid and need some other weird and wonderful varieties to pollinate them anyway?

[Snadger]

Spartan gets a mention here :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McIntosh_(apple)

But I don't like the look of it (a bit like red delicious which is orrible)

[FB.]

I think Canada is one of the main growing areas for them and it does get rather cold in Canada but its a dry cold, not like the damp NE cold!

Yes, a notable feature of the "Red" family is their excellent cold tolerance and their dry-weather tolerance (including droughts and powdery mildew).

Knowing my luck they will probably be triploid and need some other weird and wonderful varieties to pollinate them anyway?

None of the "Red" family is difficult to pollinate. Because they're not closely related to UK varieties, they readily accept pollen from almost any UK variety (that isn't triploid). Likewise; the "Red" family are usually excellent pollinators for UK-originated varieties.
In fact, Spartan is fully-self-fertile and Empire is partly-self-fertile.

[FB.]

Spartan gets a mention here :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McIntosh_(apple)

But I don't like the look of it (a bit like red delicious which is orrible)

Here's a picture of the fruits on one of my Spartans approaching ripeness (MM106 bush) (note the white plum-like coating on the deep red/purple skin) (completely untreated tree, yet completely clean and healthy fruits and leaves):