Author Topic: crab apples  (Read 1831 times)

moonbells

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crab apples
« on: September 18, 2005, 22:39:29 »
I'm hoping someone here will be able to help identify an apple that a friend has got in her back garden.

It's a deep maroon in colour, the same size as a normal apple and is quite sour to taste.

However inside it's beautiful.  Arcs of deep pink and pale pink around the centre; some are almost red inside.

Makes a superb pink apple jelly (as I know first-hand as she gave me a box of the apples!)

RHS Wisley were asked what it was, and they came up with Siberian Crab apple.  Except a Siberian crab has cherry-sized fruits... so they're wrong.

Has anyone here got one of these and know what it is? I can only say it's not a new variety as the tree in question is old and huge.

moonbells
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jennym

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2005, 03:11:05 »
This could be 'Harry Baker' from the description. I used to know someone who had this tree, and it fits the description perfectly

moonbells

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2005, 10:39:26 »
Hi Jennym

I thought it might be too after reading descriptions I found on Google after you posted; sadly it's way too light a red on the outside and the wrong shape.

http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/details.php?productID=9910#

It's one of those elongated apples, not spherical but heart-shaped, and definitely a very deep purple-red rather than cherry.

I am also now told the bark is like a cherry tree - smooth and not at all craggy like normal apples, and the flowers are dark red not pink!

It cooked to a pulp really easily and to my mind was less sour than a Bramley, so it may be that it's a heritage cooker rather than a crab, despite the amazing colour inside.

Mystery continues!

moonbells
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kentishchloe

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2005, 11:06:00 »
moonbells, you should try Brogdale - they hold the national collection of fruit trees here in Kent and they have a fruit identification service - if anyone can help you i reckon they can.

http://www.brogdale.org/html/fruit_identification.html

good luck!
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
'Kubla Khan' Samuel Taylor Coleridge

moonbells

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2005, 12:28:20 »
thanks kentishchloe - have sent the URL on, but not sure if she'll do it as it's a bit expensive!  :o

I suppose it depends on how curious we all get!

moonbells
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kentishchloe

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2005, 12:33:43 »
yeah, i know it's a bit dear. I don't know if any of the fruit will last that long, but on Apple Weekend 22/23 oct there are usually Apple-related events all over the country. All the RHS gardens do something and you can quite often find an ident section - where are you? chloe
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
'Kubla Khan' Samuel Taylor Coleridge

moonbells

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2005, 12:37:46 »
Bucks - Chilterns.

I took one of mine to Kew a couple of years ago and they got it hopelessly wrong (would have been acceptable if I hadn't gone on google, discovered what they'd suggested was a triploid apple and at that point I knew it was wrong as it's one of the pollinators for my triploid Bramley!)

I might go anyway just in case they've got it on their display. They usually have a couple of hundred varieties.

Might try mine again as this year I've hundreds of apples on it.  Or go to the HDRA apple day.

moonbells
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kentishchloe

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Re: crab apples
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2005, 12:44:07 »
Try Bernwode Plants - between Aylesbury & Bicester - they grow old fashioned apple, pear plum etc along with interesting & unusual herbaceous perennials. They have a huge photo board of different apples and are superb investigators.

http://www.bernwodeplants.co.uk/

They shut at the end of Oct but are definately worth a visit.
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
'Kubla Khan' Samuel Taylor Coleridge

 

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