apple 'Lord Derby'

Prefers a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. Thin fruit in late spring or early summer to improve size and quality. Tree size will vary with rootstock and training method. See apple cultivation for further advice

Prune according to chosen training method, often twice a year; see apple pruning

Propagate by grafting in midwinter or chip budding in late summer on a clonal rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will largely determine the vigour of the tree

May be affected by aphids, woolly aphid, rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars

Good resistance to common apple diseases: apple canker, apple scab, powdery mildews and bitter pit. May be susceptible to brown rot, honey fungus and blossom wilt