I'm very disappointed with my Charles Ross apples from the 2 Minarette trees.
It's not the number - I wasn't expecting many as the trees are new, and it's not the size - they didn't get as much water as needed, but they are tasteless and the texture is odd -not nice and crisp.
They are supposed to be dual purpose but however small they are I'm going to peel, core and slice and put them all in the freezer for winter. If I turn them into crumbles they'll be quite edible.
I hope next year the other Minarette, which is Falstaff, will have some delicious tasty apples like it did in it's first year.
In contrast to poor apples I've been eating a bowl of Autumn raspberries every other day for a couple of weeks and they are a really good treat.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
It's not been a great year for apples, has it, in contrast to last year. I'm glad the raspberries are doing well though. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's never straightforward to know what new trees will do. Next year will be better I hope
DeleteThe apples on our tree have been few, small, and not tasty. Hopefully next year you will have a bumper crop. Freezing yours for crumbles is a wise move
ReplyDeleteCooking with a crumble topping they must improve
DeleteWe have had the best crop of raspberries and blackberries this year, I'm glad something liked the wet weather. I am looking into a small apple tree, which would have to go into a big pot.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the Autumn raspberries - the only edible thing here when I moved in
DeleteI googled the apple and one place said the apples will improve on storage and be better in a few months time and one said the complete opposite. Both appeared to agree that they are better as cookers than eaters.
ReplyDeleteI shall try and water them more next year and see what happens
DeleteWe have two young patio apple trees that have been in for two years. No crop last year. This year we have small apples, some of which are oddly shaped. The one apple I have so far eaten tasted ok.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for better next year
DeleteLet's hope the poor flavour is a one off reaction to the weather and will improve next year.
ReplyDeleteHopefully - but they will give me a couple of good crumbles this year
DeleteSadly our Autumn raspberries fell victim to a hoard of hungry wasps this year...oh well...x
ReplyDeleteAlways a problem when the weather is wet - luckily it's been dryer here
DeleteWe have had masses of apples, as well as plums and greengages, but everything else was disappointing.
ReplyDeleteThe few plums I've bought at car boot sales were awful - I really miss the nice plums we had at the smallholding
DeleteThe autumn raspberries have been wonderful this year - they really do like a good drop of rain - and like you we are enjoying a bowlful freshly picked most days. Disappointing about Charles Ross which is a well-known apple. What is a Minarette tree? Is it a special kind of rootstock for pot-growing or for small gardens? I have only ever planted maiden bare root trees on dwarfing rootstocks at the allotment and on semi-dwarfing rootstocks here where my mini orchard of three apple trees (Lord Lambourne, Fiesta and Chivers Delight) planted in January 2019 a good 5 metres apart are starting to make their presence felt. Hoping the squirrels leave them alone next year, although we live in such a good apple growing area free fruit abounds. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteMinarette apple trees are bred to produce on short side spurs so are mainly just upright and can be planted very close together for small gardens like mine. I need to water them more next year and feed with my compost.
DeleteMany orchards around here have been grubbed out in the last 20 years.
We've had very few apples (we have 3 eaters and 1 cooker) off our trees this year. The Fiesta eater was the worst this year (and we discovered last year they don't keep at all well), fluffy inside and not much taste. The Cox only gave us a few this year (although it is a young tree) but they taste delicious.
ReplyDeleteI just have to stay here long enough to get apples of the ordinary sized trees I planted last year - hopeful - one day
DeleteWell, now I have raspberry envy ! I used to grow raspberries which had a small crop in June, and a much bigger crop in September. Amazing how many friends got in touch in September..
ReplyDeleteI love raspberries so it was good to find the only edible thing here when I moved in were a few Autumn raspberry canes
DeleteDisappointing. Like your apples, my pears are small. They ripened quickly and have spots of rot (inside and outside) which is new this year. Maybe my lack of watering during high heat created the problems. I do not know. At least the raccoons did not get my fruit this year.
ReplyDeleteI've never had much luck with pears wherever we have lived. I planted two small pear trees here last year - probably a waste of money and space!
DeleteI have not heard of autumn raspberries! It always amazes me how much I learn from blogs.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky to have the weather for two different sorts of raspberries . They are pruned differently but both taste delicious
DeleteI am still buying Autumn raspberries and they are delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of autumn Raspberries. Sorry about the apples but baked in a crisp should be very good
ReplyDeleteCathy
Your trees have produced so quickly! These might make nice applesauce too as well as crumble or cobbler?
ReplyDeletePerhaps the first year fruit is not as tasty as the next years???? Hopefully the apples just get better as the trees age.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.