Apple Blood of the Boyne Once widely grown in Meath, Apple Blood of the Boyne may not be an Irish heritage apple, as it is thought to be identical to Devonshire Quarrenden, an old apple from the English west country. An early dessert apple, the fruit is small, round and a vivid purplish blood-colour. This is an apple to be eaten fresh from the tree. The flesh is soft, sweet and white, sometimes tinged pink, with a taste of strawberries. A very attractive tree when in fruit. Tendency to biennial bearing, so be sure to thin the developing fruit. Site: Some shelterSoil: Any reasonably well drainedPosition: Crops best in full sunPick: Late SeptemberKeep: Does not keepHardiness: HardyPollination: Pollination Group 2 (pollinates with Groups 1, 2 and 3)Uses: Eating apple Learn more about fruit tree rootstocks During the bareroot season, our apples are pre pruned before being dispatched by mail order.