Apples

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

or alternatively, walk across to that big crab apple with a paintbrush and do a bit of self fertilization,

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But seriously, though - many thanks for the advice, hedgehog: as soon as this rain stops I'll get me paintbrush! What do you recommend as a feed?

[amateur51]

Go on ferney - you know you want to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx3epp1nTNs

[hedgehog]

But seriously, though - What do you recommend as a feed?

Er.....one for fruit trees! Or otherwise, in early spring a mulch of rotted compost, manure and/or a reasonably rich fertilizer. Wood ash is also good as it is high in Potassiium which aids flowering and has a reasonable amount of phosphorous which helps the setting of fruit. Apples also need a bit of calcium (lime) in the soil.

Having said that - this year was particularly bad for apples everywhere. Also - if you tree is in flower and a heavy frost is forecast - spray the flowers with water - it protects them from frost damage (yes really!)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks, hedgehog.

[Anna]

I had Ashmead Kernals for the first time last year, our greengrocer had a mini-applefest of rarer varieties, I liked them a lot, Egremont russets I think are the best for eating with a crumbly cheese such as Lancashire. My apple tree has been identified as a James Grieve, which is dual-purpose and not fully ripening for eating until end September, early October. It is the juciest apple ever. This year it has a very heavy crop, although smaller apples than usual. A lot were knocked off during the torrential rain on Sunday evening and the birds love them so I leave them on the ground to be pecked at. Everyone here has a good crop of apples this year, last year it was pears that produced a glut. Edit: Just read hedgehog's post - we evidently escaped the Spring frosts.

[hedgehog]

Oh lucky you Anna! I know of one person in Norfolk that had a good crop, but most other people, spread across the UK have had a poor year. It was the late frosts I think.
Still, very good year for blackberries for me!

[aeolium]

As someone partial to the occasional Calvados, I have often wondered why apple brandy is not also native to these shores and we only seem to have cider and perry as the main apple/pear alcoholic drinks (or have I been missing something and there are local apple brandies here?)

[vinteuil]

... when I were a lad, we mainly had Egremont Russet and Charles Grieve - and (my favourite) Beauty of Bath. This last seemed to come into ripe fruit well before any other apples; my memories are of the family filling large cardboard boxes with Beauty of Bath, putting them in the back of a landrover and going off for long long late summer holidays in Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, the Lake District...

[french frank]

As someone partial to the occasional Calvados, I have often wondered why apple brandy is not also native to these shores and we only seem to have cider and perry as the main apple/pear alcoholic drinks (or have I been missing something and there are local apple brandies here?)

Am I missing something in what you've written?

Or don't you count cider brandy?

“Somerset Cider Brandy is well established in the United Kingdom and has been known to consumers as ‘cider brandy’ for a significant period of time,” the regulation reads. “It enjoys a high reputation and forms an essential part of the heritage of the county of Somerset.”

[aeolium]

Yes, I saw the note about Somerset cider brandy when I looked at the wiki entry for Calvados after I had posted that. I don't remember seeing much round in Gloucestershire or Herefordshire though which are the areas I mostly know. I'll have to check in Westons' shop at Much Marcle next time I'm passing through. Is it to be recommended?

[Anna]

aeolium - didn't know Westons do cider brandy but there are lots of Herefordshire producers listed via google, but I can recommend the Much Marcle district Big Apple weekend in October, although I've not done it lately details here: http://www.bigapple.org.uk/autumntime/2012.html
And, a trip to Hellens House is an absolute must. (Pan down page and click on the link) and Lyne Down is very good as well (good name for cider producers as well!!)

[french frank]

Is it to be recommended?

Highly, so my brother tells me, though I confess a greater liking for malt whisky and armagnac.

When in Bristol, here be many kinds of apple drink.

[aeolium]

aeolium - didn't know Westons do cider brandy but there are lots of Herefordshire producers listed via google, but I can recommend the Much Marcle district Big Apple weekend in October, although I've not done it lately details here: http://www.bigapple.org.uk/autumntime/2012.html
And, a trip to Hellens House is an absolute must. (Pan down page and click on the link) and Lyne Down is very good as well (good name for cider producers as well!!)

Anna, I've been to the Much Marcle Apple Day - very enjoyable. There's also a good Apple Day at Chepstow, with plenty of varieties including Ashmead Kernel - last year they had a stall from the twin town Cormeilles which had Calvados-tasting.

Hellens House also hosts music events - Wye Valley Music (which bizarrely has a January music festival) sometimes holds concerts there.

[Anna]

aeolium - I never knew Chepstow had an apple day!!! I had a tour of Hellens ages ago by the (very eccentric) family who lived there. I recall it was followed by a high tea event! Anyway, it was fun.

I picked 10lbs of apples from my tree just before the winds/rains were forecast. Half for me, half for my neighbour who reciprocates with beetroots from his allotment (which I am a late convert to, baked) I love apples, they are the perfect fruit because every variety tastes different - unlike bananas which just taste of - bananas!!