Last year the red eating apple branch had very few apples, this year there are lots - despite the dry summer, and I'm just beginning to pick and eat - and they are delicious, won't need to buy apples for a few weeks.
The main part of the tree is a cooking apple - which I thought was Bramley but they didn't store at all well when wrapped in newspaper last year so maybe it isn't. The other part of the 'Family' is a mystery, it's just one small branch to the left of the red apple branch in this photo, much lighter green leaves and middle sized fruit, probably an eater of some sort. I can't remember how many there were last year or what they tasted like. I'll find out later this month and let you know.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I do envy you your perfect apples....we've got loads, it's just that the majority of them are decimated by darn wasps, of which we also have 100s.
ReplyDeleteThe wasps seem to have disappeared - I'm pleased to say. They just ruined the plums first
DeleteHome grown apples have a fresh flavour all their own, don't they? There's nothing quite like it for me. Simply delicious!
ReplyDeletexx
The red ones I'm eating are so different to anything available in the shops
DeleteNothing nicer that picking your own apples. We have a teeny miniature tree, it always produces a decent little crop. x
ReplyDeleteMy patio pear had two pears that fell off!
DeleteNever heard of that before - Fab for a smaller garden!
ReplyDeleteThey are still available - seen them in recent garden catalogues
DeleteWhat a mysterious beast! I hope you will be out wassailing when the time cometh. x
ReplyDeleteYes I'll be out there in the cold - pouring cider on the roots (or more likely apple juice)
DeleteWhat a mysterious beast! I hope you will be out wassailing when the time cometh. x
ReplyDeleteLook crunchy, juicy and delicious.
ReplyDeleteThey have a lovely tangy flavour
DeleteYou have amounts that you can cope with. I have 5 apple trees absolutely groaning with fruit, and a baby one (a pippin) who broke a branch with the weight of fruit on it (helped by a Jackdaw robber, I might add). I shall soon be looking for victims for boxes of apples!
ReplyDeleteI expect lots of people will be glad of some apples
DeleteNever heard of the family apple tree. Clearly a banner year for apples in some parts of the UK.
ReplyDeleteFamily trees have been around a long time and still in seed merchants catalogues
DeleteI remember 'family' trees being advertised years ago, and not believing that they would work, but obviously they do. Apples have been prolific this year, though the original Bramley tree has almost died now.
ReplyDeleteI guess they are grafted on at an early stage,
Deletei have a family apple , its a bit temperamental, some years its laden ,this year its tons of apples but all to little to be a lot of use , i also have a family pear that is laden every year it has cookers and eaters. I have a semi Dwarf Tydemans Early Worcester eating apple , ive planted one at every house ive lived in , pink inside gorgeous eater .
ReplyDeleteThe red apples I'm eating have a pink tinge to the flesh under the red bits of skin - they are very tasty
DeleteI went on a pruning course many years ago and they told us that family apple trees have to pruned according to each variety. The strongest growing variety will overtake the others unless controlled. They had a "miracle tree" that had 2 apples and a pear grafted that had all taken and grown well. It was an experiment that worked but they had never managed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I doubt this has ever been pruned in any way, The cooking apple bit is much much bigger than the rest.
DeleteI have never seen a tree like that! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThat is one impressive tree, I must admit to missing the presence of trees on this Island. They don't do well in the strong winds here. Thank you for your well wishes for Gerard, he is doing much better now thankfully.
ReplyDeleteIf you search around on the internet you may well find there is somebody who will identify it for you if you send them a sample.
ReplyDeleteWhat an ingenious tree, perfect for one's home. Maybe the not-Bramly could be made into applesauce? I believe you can freeze it if you do not care to preserve. You could also then use it in cakes over the winter?
ReplyDeletelizzy at gone to the beach...
lizzzz.d@gmail.com
I think the red apples could be ‘Discovery ‘.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea, like you we have always had the space for individual trees but for a small garden this is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI second the idea of cooking and freezing the apples from the 'Bramley' type part of the tree, or this year I've just been freezing sliced apples as there has been so many of them to process.