The james grieve apple tree is a self pollinating tree that produces yellow apples that are good for both cooking with and eating straight from the tree the james grieve apple tree grows very versatile apples that can be used in cooking or eating straight from the tree james grieve apples can be picked as early as late august when still fairly firm when the young fruit is used as a cooking apple it will hold its shape well and delivers a tangy sharp flavour as the apple matures it mellows