We planted three small apple trees a few months back in the expectation that we’d get nothing for three years. Magically the poor Cox’s Pippin ignored this and is now creaking under the weight of about 15 apples. And they are beauties:
Apple of my eye
September 22, 2006 | 7 Comments
September 23, 2006 at 10:28 am
Yum.
First, enviously, I wish I’d planted a Cox or two, too. In the limited space available, we have an Egremont Russet and an Ashmead’s Kernel – I went for the heritage bandwagon – and they are all right: moderately productive of blandish, rather mealy apples, which may be their revenge for having to compete with hungry herbaceous neighbours for the scarce food and water available.
Second, enviously, the gardening books would probably tell you to limit fruiting for a year or two to promote root development, &c. &c. Generally, when I’ve done things by the book, the results have not been universally better than by the instinctive method, so you can take that with a pinch of cinnamon.
September 23, 2006 at 10:36 am
We’ve been unnaturally lucky with gardening this year. Zero effort or attention to detail giving bumper crops of everything.
As a result I’m thinking of writing a one sentence gardening book called “Stick it in the ground, forget about it for three months and then eat it”.
I will read up on the apples tho, as one of the three trees has some sort of scabs on the leaves.
September 23, 2006 at 10:51 am
Not to rub it in but the Cox’s are crunchy, moist and still have a tiny bit of tartness. Perfect for me elevenses.
September 23, 2006 at 12:13 pm
The books may well tell you to spray, spray, spray – or move to Kent. This is a damp old country for any of those rose – apple family plants, which are prone to disease. I persist, though, with the apples, David Austin roses and so on and don’t spray, even though they get filthy with black spot and the like. I bin the fallen leaves and clippings, improve the soil and ventilate where possible – and accept the consequences, good or less so.
September 23, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I’ve inherited my father’s “scorched earth” approach to gardening (if in doubt, spray it) but I’ve resisted this year and haven’t touched anything. Apart from bad problems with some yoke putting a zillion holes in my rocket and sorrel, it’s worked very well.
September 5, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I walked the dog last night as an excuse to avoid the washing up. Our (Three yr old) Irish Russets not only had lots of fruit, but a few branches of blossom as well!. I kid you not. Has global warming created two seasons for apples?
September 5, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I think it may have since our strawberries have more blossoms now than the height of the summer!