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Gardening

Hows about them apples!

(56 Posts)
Namsnanny Thu 12-Sept-24 13:06:01

Nearly all my apples were scabby or had insects in the centre.

I couldn't keep up with the routines that normally keep 90% healthy this year, what with one thing or another.

But about half a dozen are just perfect.

I ate the best one before I thought about saving its image for posterity 🙂
I'm not sure of its name, but it has all the attributes I like in an apple, crisp but not to the extent of making the teeth and gums ache when biting, sweet but not sickly so, tart but not so much as to make you screw your face up, and lastly juicy.

I gave up buying apples in the market when we moved here as they didn't compare.

So I've got six of the little beauties from two trees.
The other type is heart shaped and long and green, (I'll put a photo up later).
Whereas you can see this apple is well, apple shaped.
Maybe someone knowledgeable will have a clue what variety they are?

Thank you for reading my ode to apples
Some times the simple things reward the most.😄

Allira Thu 12-Sept-24 13:09:23

They look delicious Namsnanny

Cox's Orange Pippin?

We had no apples at all on our two small trees this year although the trees do look healthier. â˜č

Allira Thu 12-Sept-24 13:11:53

If they're Cox's they are also good for cooking if you can cut the scabby bits out.

A greaseband helps to stop the insects (I think)

Witzend Thu 12-Sept-24 13:17:41

That looks delish! No idea about the variety, sorry!

Talking of apples, I have just made a big pan of apple chutney with a load of (nearly all) very scabby and part- or largely rotten windfalls from dd1’s garden. Waste not, want not


Took me ages to cut all the good bits out and chop up, but I just couldn’t be bothered to peel them. Once the mix was sufficiently simmered to a ‘thick pulp’, though, it was easy enough to squish any still intact bits of apple against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon.

It’s going to be very hot and spicy, so just as well that’s how we like it. I combined all the hot and spicy bits of 2 recipes, so fresh ginger and dried chillies, mustard seeds and a little cayenne pepper.
Looking forward to the first tasting!

Namsnanny Thu 12-Sept-24 13:22:28

Thanks Allira I try the grease band idea.

It's all about keeping up with the routines and doing so at the appropriate time isnt it?

I was following a farmer who was turning all that I understood about fruit trees on its head.
For example pruning leads to more pruning (he said) and less fruit.
So his method was to bend the branch by fastening it to a heavy stone, and let fruit spurs grow from the bend.

I'm not sure if it worked for usđŸ€”

Our third tree didnt have any fruit either.
But I deem to remember it had flowers.

Were your trees on a rest year did you think?

Namsnanny Thu 12-Sept-24 13:25:34

Deem = seem
Did = do

Namsnanny Thu 12-Sept-24 13:28:35

Sounds delicious Witzend
My attempts at jam and chutney are a bit hit and miss, with the good years never to be repeated.
Enjoy your first cheese and homemade chutney ploughmans👍

foxie48 Thu 12-Sept-24 13:40:49

Possibly Suntan, this is one off my tree which has done well this year. Similar taste to a Cox's orange pippen.

LucyAnna2 Thu 12-Sept-24 13:56:22

Collected a bag full of apples from the two trees at the end of our garden - hopefully some will keep. Last year we kept some til January. No idea of the two varieties! Very old trees.

HousePlantQueen Thu 12-Sept-24 14:05:42

Witzend

That looks delish! No idea about the variety, sorry!

Talking of apples, I have just made a big pan of apple chutney with a load of (nearly all) very scabby and part- or largely rotten windfalls from dd1’s garden. Waste not, want not


Took me ages to cut all the good bits out and chop up, but I just couldn’t be bothered to peel them. Once the mix was sufficiently simmered to a ‘thick pulp’, though, it was easy enough to squish any still intact bits of apple against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon.

It’s going to be very hot and spicy, so just as well that’s how we like it. I combined all the hot and spicy bits of 2 recipes, so fresh ginger and dried chillies, mustard seeds and a little cayenne pepper.
Looking forward to the first tasting!

are you me? I have just done the same thing with wizened apples from my daughter's garden! Now tucked away in cold, dark outbuilding, ready for Xmas.

Allira Thu 12-Sept-24 14:19:51

Namsnanny

Thanks Allira I try the grease band idea.

It's all about keeping up with the routines and doing so at the appropriate time isnt it?

I was following a farmer who was turning all that I understood about fruit trees on its head.
For example pruning leads to more pruning (he said) and less fruit.
So his method was to bend the branch by fastening it to a heavy stone, and let fruit spurs grow from the bend.

I'm not sure if it worked for usđŸ€”

Our third tree didnt have any fruit either.
But I deem to remember it had flowers.

Were your trees on a rest year did you think?

I'm not sure my fruit farmer SIL would agree re pruning.

Allira Thu 12-Sept-24 14:21:58

Were your trees on a rest year did you think?

They're only about 4 years old ad have grown very slowly. We thought that they would produce a small crop this year.
At least they look healthier this year, probably with all the rain.

Ilovedogs22 Thu 12-Sept-24 14:41:39

Your lovely apple looks like a variety called Sunset, a desert apple which has a crisp white flesh & a sweet, delicate taste. 🍎🍏🍎

Namsnanny Thu 12-Sept-24 15:20:05

Ilovedogs so we have a suggestion of Sunset,
Suntan from foxie48,
And Coxes orange pippin.
In all honesty I would be happy with either of those.

loopyloo Thu 12-Sept-24 16:47:34

We are inundated with Bramleys so I need a proper plan.
Stew some each day. Pack some in shed every day. Throw mouldy ones away each day.
Give some away each day.

Indigo8 Thu 12-Sept-24 16:53:44

I think it could be Cox's but it is difficult to say as there are so many different types of apple these days. Whatever it is enjoy!!

Ilovedogs22 Thu 12-Sept-24 20:43:20

There is a place where you can send your apples to, in order to discover the exact variety. Not sure where, I learnt about it from a lecturer, a few (many moons back!!!) confused

LucyAnna2 Thu 12-Sept-24 21:25:05

Might be Sunset?

Esmay Thu 12-Sept-24 21:49:26

My neighbour kindly gives me cooking apples from her trees .
I took the excess to church and gave them away .
I'd like a dessert apple tree in my garden and am considering whether to buy one which has different varieties grafted onto it .

Lisaangel10 Thu 12-Sept-24 21:54:55

Our neighbour’s cooking apple tree is right behind our summerhouse. Loads of them fall on the roof and then roll on to our garden so we use them. I stew them for crumbles and pies.

I can’t understand her, she lets them just fall and rot on the ground, same as she does plums. What a waste! Lots of people put a bucketful outside their house for people to help themselves but not her.

Esmay Thu 12-Sept-24 22:46:05

It's my ambition to have some lovely apple trees in my garden and the old varieties appeal to me .
There are over 7,500 varieties worldwide .
There used to be more .
The Romans introduced them to Britain . They grew well . After they left , the orchards were neglected then , after the Norman invasion the French improved the species .
Crab apples are the only apple , which is native .
Apples are incredibly good for you .
It's not a myth !

bridie54 Thu 12-Sept-24 22:55:30

Esmay as you are considering a dessert apple can I recommend the one I bought following a recommendation from a friend who already has it.
Red Devil. Mine is on a dwarf rootstock ( I forget the number) but the apples are lovely, red streaked flesh , crisp and juicy.
I need to learn more about properly pruning etc as have plenty fruit this year but some have splits.
I too just chop out any bad bits and eat them whether raw or used in desserts.
My friends tree is not a dwarf rootstock and it crops plentifully. She feds any windfalls chopped in her horses feed.

Delila Thu 12-Sept-24 23:05:34

All my apples are scabby, but between the scabs they are the most delicious apples I’ve ever tasted, sweet and crispy. They don’t keep, have to be eaten as soon as they’re easy to pick. I bought the tree from Aldi about 5 years ago, labelled only “Mallus Domesticus”. The fruits are long, rather than round, and red. The tree is small and heavy cropping in a good year.

Esmay Fri 13-Sept-24 00:23:08

Thanks a ton bridie54 I'm grateful for recommendations .
I've put it on my list .

mae13 Fri 13-Sept-24 04:23:06

In about another month the Russet's should be in the shops - they're the best by far, but they only have a short season.
Cut your losses and buy some!