Apples and Plums for the South Pennines: suggestions please?

Opal plum

I want to plant apple/plum trees in our small sloping south west facing paddock. 2 eaters – 2 cooking – and 2 plums.  What type do you recommend please.
We live in Ripponden South Pennines.

Krystyna Demkowicz

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Fruit Paintings of Elisabeth Dowle

Beurré Hardy, Red Beurré Hardy pear painted by Elisabeth Dowle. Copyright Elisabeth Dowle.
Published in The Book of Pears by Joan Morgan (2015); Ebury Press

Elisabeth Dowle is internationally recognised as one of our leading botanic artists and now there is an opportunity to see many of her best-known works in an exhibition at Cannon Hall Museum, Barnsley, Yorkshire. The exhibition opened on 24 May 2019 and continues until 3 November 2019: http://www.cannon-hall.com/pears-and-apples-the-botanical-illustration-of-elisabeth-dowle

The Cannon Hall exhibition includes 12 of Elisabeth’s apple paintings and 15 of her paintings of pears. The exhibition is displayed in two adjoining rooms, creating intimate spaces and truly cabinets of treasures in which the paintings really sparkle. Well worth a detour if you are in Yorkshire over the summer.

Pear paintings fill the first room and there is special emphasis on the pears, as Cannon Hall has an historic collection of trained pear trees growing in a walled fruit and vegetable garden, close to the house. A number of these pear trees are very old, probably dating back to the nineteenth century, when the gardens were in their prime. The famous Cannon Hall Muscat grape was raised here and the original vine  continues to thrive in one of the glass houses.

Elisabeth has been awarded seven Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medals for her water colour paintings. The paintings featured in Cannon Hall exhibition were used to illustrate The Book of Pears by Joan Morgan (2015) and The Book of Apples/The New Book of Apples (1993, 2002)  by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards; published by Ebury Press. These paintings were made from pears and apples growing in the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, Kent. Elisabeth’s work has been used to illustrate other books, featured on porcelain and calendars and are held in a number of private collections and institutions.

Fruit Forum

 

Pear trees trained against a wall at Cannon Hall

 

Cannon Hall Muscat grape fruiting at Cannon Hall

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Gerald Finzi’s Orchard: information please?

Ribston Pippin blosssom

The question I’m going to ask you is a curiosity and I’m having a hard time finding information about it; maybe I didn’t know how to search well. I clarify that I am Spanish and although the English language is not unknown to me to access certain information is not easy. I am looking for the name and as much information as possible about the apple varieties that the musician Gerald Finzi cultivated on his farm in Aldbourne, Wiltshire. It’s a historical curiosity, mixed with my interest in music and one of my first works, fruit growing. I would be very grateful if you could help me.

José María Bárcena Álvarez

 

The composer Gerald Finzi collected varieties of apples and other fruits, which he planted in his Wiltshire orchard. He was a member of a group of enthusiasts who set out to rescue old fruit varieties and especially apples that they remembered, but which were fast disappearing from orchards and gardens. They were active in the 1940s and 1950s and led by Philip Morton Shand, a linguist and writer on modern architecture, wine and food. Other key players were the architect [Sir] Leslie Martin and a Miss Holliday who lived in Yorkshire. Shand wrote articles, made a broadcast and organised a network of helpers all over the country. The group built up their own collections and their discoveries of ‘rare’ fruits were given to the Fruit Collection at the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley, Surrey the forerunner of today’s National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, Kent. For more details on the Collection see: Morgan, J., ‘Orchard Archives: The National Fruit Collection’ in Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library, vol 7, pp.3-30, 2012

Fruit Forum

 

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Tonnes of apples – what to do with them?

Delgollune, raised by French nurseryman George Delbard

We have just purchased a property in the Manche region of Normandy and with the property we have over 400 apple tress which produce between 8 – 10 tonnes of fruit. These trees have been looked after by a next door neighbour for many years and, even to our untrained eye, look in need of some proper care. Where could we go to learn about keeping an orchard? How can we identify our apples? Also the next door neighbour informs us that the local cooperative which used to take them now buys its apples from Spain! In the short term ie October this year (as we do not move permanently until next summer), any thoughts on what we could do with our harvest, rather than leave it to rot.

Sue and Kevin Robinson

 

There may be something of use in an article on our main web-site:  http://www.fruitforum.net/growing-apples-organically-in-normandy.htm

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Beauty of Bath: is it worth the space?

Beauty of Bath

I have an espalier Beauty of Bath, but the apples are disappointing. Is it worth keeping?

Simon Bishop

 

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Apples and Pears for North West England: suggestions please?

Keswick Codlin, an early cooking apple variety that arose in North West England

I am a farmer in the south Pennines (I have recently taken over the farm from my now retired parents) and am looking to plant some more apple and pear varieties best suited to our climate. I’m hoping to plant around 15 – 20 trees in 2018 and look forward to using this resource to research what varieties to get. If there is anyone reading this based in the North West who has the time to offer advice to someone such as myself please do feel free to get in touch. Our farm website has our contact details on: www.cronkshawfoldfarm.co.uk.

Dorothy McCarthy

And please post your suggestions and comments below and we will pass them on.

We asked Hilary Wilson to give us some suggestions which are posted below – Comment number 3. Hilary  is a great authority on the apples  of the North West and has spent many years identifying and searching for varieties that do well in her native Cumbria, where she also farmed.

Fruit Forum

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A New Fruit Record: 35 first prizes at the RHS Autumn Show

Class 11: ‘Best Collection of Fruit’ at the RHS Autumn Show 2015 won by Adrian Baggaley. Front row, left to right: Howgate Wonder, Mère de Ménage, Reverend W Wilks. Middle row left to right: Conference, Concorde, Pitmaston Duchess. Back row, left to right: Norfolk Royal Russset, Fiesta, Red Devil. The dish of Fiesta in this collection also won the E. J. White Trophy for the best single dish of fruit in the show.

For a number of years we have reported the amazing successes achieved by Adrian Baggaley at the Royal Horticultural Society fruit shows. This year he has excelled and even beaten his own records. He entered 40 classes and won 35 of them at the RHS Autumn Show on 6-7 October 2015. These included ‘Firsts’ for the ‘Best Dish of Apples’, the Best Dish of Pears’ and the  most challenging of all the ‘Best Collection of Fruit’, that is, nine perfectly matched and flawless dishes of apples and pears! To achieve this level of success, you need to be very dedicated – take a look at  Adrian’s article ‘Growing for Showing‘ on our main website.  Well done Adrian!

Fruit Forum

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Fruit Blossom 2015

King’s Acre Pippin apple

We will track the progress of fruit blossom during the coming weeks through its development in the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham, Kent. Our guide is Lorinda Jewsbury, who is going to give us information on a number of varieties in the Collection: dates when 10% of the buds are open, the tree is in full flower and when 90% of the petals have fallen. The varieties that Lorinda records are listed below with the dates observed so far. Updates will follow as we advance through blossom time.

The year’s season held off from 2014’s early show of flowers, with the apricots, plums, cherries and pears opening their blooms a good 2-3 weeks later than last year. In mid-April we had a few unusually warm and sunny days, which really set the blooms in motion. One moment there was barely a pear tree in blossom, the next saw the orchard awash with white flowers.

For the plums, a cluster of warm days gave a boost to the flowering times, with just 1-2 days between ‘10% of blossom open’ and ‘full flower’ for a number of varieties. It also gave a boost to the bees, butterflies and numerous other insects that appeared to be enjoying the sea of open flowers in the orchard. Hopefully they will have done a good job at pollinating the flowers for us and, weather permitting, a good crop will follow.

Lorinda Jewsbury

2015

PLUM

Cambridge Gage: 15^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower)

Czar: 7^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage): 11^th April (10% open); 14^th April (full flower)

Farleigh Damson: 13^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower)

Marjorie’s Seedling: 15^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower)

Oullins Gage: 14^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower)

Pershore Yellow Egg: 14^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower)

Victoria: 13^th April (10% open); 15^th April (full flower)

PEAR

Concorde: 21^st April (10% open)

Conference: 20^th April (10% open)

Doyenne du Comice: 21^st April (10% open)

Louise Bonne of Jersey: 15^th April (10% open); 19^th April (full flower)

CHERRY

Early Rivers: 16^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower)

Hertford: 18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower)

Lapins: 15^th April (10% open); 18^th April (full flower)

Merchant: 20^th April (10% open)

Stella: 20^th April (10% open)

Sunburst: 21^st April (10% open)

APPLE

Blenheim Orange:

Bramley’s Seedling:

Cox’s Orange Pippin:

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery:

Egremont Russet:

Falstaff:

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin:

Gala:

James Grieve:

Jonagold:

Meridian:

Red Astrachan: 16^th April (10% open); 21^st April (full flower)

St. Edmund’s Pippin:

Worcester Pearmain:

 

See below, in first comment,  for a course on pollination 26-28 June 2015 in Cambridge UK

 

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A ‘Belgian Fence’ of Apples: which varieties?

‘Belgian Fence’

I would like to get some feedback on my plans for a ‘Belgian Fence’ (interwoven double cordon) of apples. I want to create small single intersecting diamond forms as shown in my diagram.

My shortlist for varieties (with pollination groups shown in brackets) is:
Red Windsor (2)
Scrumptious (3)
Egremont Russet (2)
Herefordshire Russet (3)

After a lot of tastings – I attended three different apple days this year – and getting very interested in some other older varieties that have wonderful flavour – Ashmead’s Kernel, Blenheim Orange, Orleans Reinette – I am close to settling on the varieties above. Three of which are newer improved varieties, and seem like they might be a bit more productive. My space is very limited so I want to maximise productivity (without sacrificing flavour). However I have not managed to taste Scrumptious or Herefordshire Russet – can anyone report on flavour? And productivity or suitability for such restricted training?

Situation is a small garden in central London, very sheltered indeed, but probably slightly sub-optimum levels of direct sunlight. Garden is SSE facing with the cordon to run along the left hand fence (running NNW – SSE). The fence is a picket fence around 120cm high so allows some of the early morning direct sunlight through. Then as the sun moves around the row will get direct sunlight from mid-morning to mid-late afternoon. So not full sun all day, but my tomatoes did OK in that position this year, not the best crop I have had, but acceptable. Existing soil is about 18″ to 2ft of clay over building rubble. It is not heavy clay – bit loamy, but has been under paving for many years. I plan to double dig in the next few weeks and add about 25% Veoila soil improver, which I can get from our local tip and seems like good dark stuff – hopefully giving that a month before planting..

I plan to concrete in some angle iron about 8” from the existing fence. Posts to be spaced 2.4m (8ft) apart with galvanised wire and tensioners for support, with canes and ties as generally recommended. Tree spacing 60cm (2ft). Eventual tree height 180cm (6ft). The larger tree on the right in the diagram is to be a Spindle Bush Conference Pear. I am looking at bare-root M9 rootstock from Keeper’s nursery. Apparently due to the warm October the trees are still growing so it is likely to be the New Year before most are lifted.

Any experience anyone could bring to bear on any of this would be much appreciated.

Richard Galpin

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A Thousand Apples celebrate a Thousand Years at London’s Borough Market

Tomorrow – Sunday 26 October – a thousand different varieties of apples will be on display in London’s Borough Market marking a millennium of trading on this site. Apples are the one food that exists in a thousand different varieties and so perfect for this historic anniversary. It all happens tomorrow when the market stages its Apple Day Festival.

The apples come from the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale in Kent where over two thousand different varieties are grown. For more information see: Borough Market

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