I've just had the report of an apple project that started on the site last year. We've got 75 mature apples (plus other fruit trees), and so far they've identified 22 varieties; the oldest is Calville Blanc d'Hiver, first recorded under a synonym in 1598. We've lost a lot already, due to age, storms and unappreciative tenants; I'm told there were once four trees on my plot, but the previous temant cut them down. There's going to be an effort to conserve the survivors, and to take grafts from those which aren't already in a local collection of old varieties.
Very sad R_B.
The RHS do a free fruit identification service for members, so you may be able to identify some of the remaining older trees.
I have some old gardening books belonging to my grandad, The Fruit Grower's Guide, is one. The varieties of apples listed in the book are astronomical, compared with the (very) few that are available in the shops today.
valmarg
One plot holder has a tree with yellow apples , that they never crop, that hang on until May.... I'd like to know what it is!... A funny shaped early cooker on my plot is probably Emneth Early syn Early Victoria @ 1920 when the site was established. There was a great Jargonelle Pear that a new plotholder grubbed out... :'(
They're going to have another go at the rest this year. Some may well have been grown from pips, but they should get named varieties if they'll produce decent fruit. Some are so moribund they may never get that far.
I think the Yellow one is from a Pip .... but who will check it? or name it?
???
I have a yellow apple on my plot - a very early one which drops very suddenly - maybe your plot neighbours don't crop theirs because the fruit aren't very nice! Very woolly and not tasting of very much, and they keep no time at all at home.
I think I'm better off with the nutrients going back into the soil!
Quote from: saddad on February 09, 2008, 10:08:40
I think the Yellow one is from a Pip .... but who will check it? or name it?
???
are you sure it isn't the dreadful golden delicious :-X
but other yellows are greensleeves, grenadier - as they hang on for so long this suggest it is a late variety - maybe Orleans Reinette
It isn't golden delicious...
::)
Robert
If you are able to bring some fruit along to our open day on the second Sunday in October, we have a Apple identification expert there on the day. We should be able to put a few more names along with the others.
Regards
Jon
Blackmoor Nurseries
That's worth knowing. You're a long way from me though, so any contact's likely to be through mail order. You are on my shortlist of nurseries for when I get round to buying some more fruit in.
Richard, not sure what part of Birmingham your in, but Pershore collage (just down the M5) has a large nursery attached. Part of this nursery are the apple orchards.
At regular intervals they do Fruit Tree Pruning courses. The chap that runs this is a proper Apple-head what he don't know about apples ain't worth eating. There's one on Sat. 23 Feb and another on Sat 15th March.
At £45 its a bit steep for just an identification, but they're good courses.
Alternatively, Pershore has an open day Sat 7th June, free, but the chap you want might not be there.
Then there's always the Malvern show (May 8-11, Thu...Sun), sure to be an expert or two there, but Malvern's no longer a cheap show to get into.
http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/pershore/rhs_calender.html
Sorry Robert_B the above should have started with Robert, not Richard.
Its tough A4A-ing at work, buggers keep interupting me. Can't they see I'm busy ?