Friday 12 December 2014

Winter Scrumping.



Most apples have long gone, but this particular variety lingers on.

It's the only apple I know that resists frost, snow, hail, and pestilence. I have no idea what variety it is, but I am very grateful that it exists. It belongs to a neighbour, and lives about 100 metres downhill from us. No-one else takes them.

Up until late November it was bland and almost unpleasant to eat, but now it has aged and had a slight frost on its back it becomes delicious.

I've just been down to half-inch a few for Lady Magnon's latest lot of Mincemeat, and I noticed that there are plenty; maybe I'll go down again and fill-up a whole box,... they last through until about March.


If anyone recognises the variety I'd love to know what it is. Otherwise I suppose I could always take a cutting. As you can see the apples are yellow with reddish spots. The tree is very big, and very old.



24 comments:

  1. Good morning from here.
    I have never seen such apples . In my area farmers dont grow apples I dont know why. may be they need colder weather.

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    Replies
    1. Apples certainly prefer cooler climates, whereas Pears prefer warmth. These are surprisingly tasty.

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  2. I usually use this site to id apples. It only has a few, but it's pretty good. I would guess Tolmans Sweet, but I would have to taste some (hint hint)

    http://www.newenglandapples.org/index.php?catcont=varieties

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    Replies
    1. I couldn't see anything in there that resembled mine, but thanks.

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  3. What an interesting apple, Cro - both for its look and also for the fact that it grows better with age (don't we all?) Do leave a few for the birds won;t you - we have snow here this morning and the birds are desperate.

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    Replies
    1. There are plenty for everyone. I also give a few to the horses when I pass by.

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  4. I've never seen apples with spots before.

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  5. Try this site. I'm really quite curious myself now.

    http://www.fruitid.com/

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    Replies
    1. Based on the limited information from the picture I've come up with ananas reinette as a possibility.

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    2. It certainly looks to be a candidate, although the spots are possibly more red. Thanks.

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  6. I look forward to finding out what variety of Apple it is Cro. They call them heirloom varieties here in Australia, and this websites lists hundreds of varieties. http://www.heritagefruitssociety.org.au/apples And to think that most people are limited to half a dozen varieties in the supermarkets these days. You are very lucky.

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  7. How lucky you are.'
    I have given up apples, which I love, because they all taste so awful.
    I think it is beautiful to look at.

    cheers, parsnip

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  8. Surely there is an extension service (that's what they call it here) through the area that could tell you what kind of apple it is. It might really be a treasure; one that could be thought extinct or something. Please call around and mail one in. I'd love to know.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe I'll take one to a local grower; he might know. Or even the owner of the tree maybe!

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  9. Our weather has been topsy-turvy; we has enough rain over the last two days to melt nearly all the snow. The birds still empty the feeder each day, but it's been taking a little longer than when we had the super cold temperatures last week, so my guess is that it's better scrumping this week for them.

    we had an old apple tree here, type unknown. It blew over a few years ago, and the second oldest apple tree has been bearing fruit. I usually leave them for the deer to eat, but ought to try them just to see what they taste like.

    Lots of older places here have apple trees, most are unknown varieties and quite local. There are some apple nerds about who'll see if they can tell you what kind you have, and if it's a rare, desirable type, they'll ask for a cutting to graft or an apple so they can grow their own.

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    Replies
    1. My people had a 44 tree orchard of very rare varieties. When I sold their house the new owner just bulldozed the whole lot to make an extra paddock for his horses.

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  10. It's been a fantastic year for apples. The ones we've got in store are keeping pretty well. No idea what variety the ones in your picture are but they look good.

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  11. I have a basket full of golden delicious that I am keeping for the blackbirds - they last well too.

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    Replies
    1. I'm wondering if this isn't a type of Golden Delicious.

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  12. They are yellow apples with a disease that manifests itself with red spots.

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  13. very like the crabapples I picked!...just bigger

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  14. looks like these,with red spots
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus_sylvestris
    so wild apples not crabapples

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