What cider apples or perry pears is anyone growing ?
Melanie Wilson
course !
I've grafted a few this year and so will have to wait a little while for
fruit. Also planted three perry peears, even longer if the stuff I've read
is to be believe, so I might be grafting onto pyro dwarf and trying tie
downs in the hope of seeing perry before I'm 70
Mel
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JezH
I am lucky enough to get a lot of my apples from an orchard that is
local to me, but I do have a teeny, itty bitty orchard (6 trees) on
which I grow varieties that are not on my usual 'list'.
I have an Ashmeads Kernel (sweet), James Grieve (sharp/sweet), Knotted
Kernel, Hangdown, Royal Jersey (bittersweets) and a Skyrmes Kernel
(bittersharp). I got most of these from Bernwode Nurseries as they are
all endangered/reintroduced varieties. One person who is yet to join
us here is Stephen Hayes, and he has spent the last three years
telling me 'not to lose the rootstock' of these old varieties... that
probably influenced my choice!
I may be in line (who knows how councils work) for a second small plot
in the next year or so, and my plans are to grow a Broxwood Foxwhelp
and some of the more usual (and reliable) varieties (Dabinett,
Yarlington, Tom Putt etc.)
All the best
Jez
JezH
Ashmeads Kernel and James Grieve are just really good varieties (but
not rare!). The others are 'recorded as rare/reintroduced'.
Jez
Melanie Wilson
It is still an orchard :)
>Knotted
Kernel, Hangdown, Royal Jersey (bittersweets) and a Skyrmes Kernel
(bittersharp).
I've not heard of these (but then I'm not big into cider apples, I'll have
to look them up in that Nat Apple register) Are they fruiting yet and are
you producing from them ?
>endangered/reintroduced varieties.
There are far too many which are not being cultivared widely. Loads of
material being lost and only 2000 odd in the Nat Fruit collection.
> One person who is yet to join
us here is Stephen Hayes, and he has spent the last three years
telling me 'not to lose the rootstock' of these old varieties
Sorry not really sure what you mean by this ? Rootstock & cultivar (on the
top bit) are usually seperate entities, as far as I can see Bernwold arn't
doing own root trees. Glad to know you are keeping some less popular
cultivars going.
I grafted Pendragon, pigs snout, catshead, Dabinett(thanks Mark) and
Kingston Black this year in cider types. Lots of others too, but not cider
ones. Mine were chosen as cider types that were on offer , not terribily
selective on cider taste I fear .
Are` any of your cider apples red fleshed ones I read somewhere they often
are.
Mel
Jez Howat
In terms of Stephens oft quoted phrase - I think it simply translates "don't
let good varieties perish", although technically you are right!
Cider apples, in general, don't follow any particular pattern of colour (you
just have to check out some of the text books to see). For me, the most
striking varieties are Kingston Black (ruby red), Tremletts in a good year
(brilliant red) and Yarlington Mill (a great mix of red and green). I am
sure other people have others to add to that. However, my personal favourite
apple (period) is either the Egremont Russet or Orleans Reinette - Both make
absolutely delicious juice... I use a LOT of Egremont in my cider.
Cider varieties do tend to grow smaller apples than either dessert or
culinary.
Bernwode seem to be the main source of rare/reintroduced varieties - I got a
Hangdown from Ashridge... although I understand that some kind soul has sent
some material to Bernwode last year, so I am sure that will be added to
their list in due course. I would get a hold of their brochure if you can
(they make a small charge for it) as it is a most excellent reference guide.
Visit http://www.bernwodeplants.co.uk/
Jez
Melanie Wilson
lol no. What rootstock are they on ?
> Cider apples, in general, don't follow any particular pattern of colour
Sorry I meant flesh not skin colour, I wish I remember where I read that, it
will probably come back to me eventually. But a lot of modern apples don't
seem to be red fleshed so I suspect it was a 19th c ref
> Bernwode seem to be the main source of rare/reintroduced varieties
I tend to use Keepers, they have a fantastic variety, but might not have as
many cider as Bernwode, they seem to concentrate on those in the Nat Fruit
Collection being so close. I've looked at their online listings, I have to
admit I rather resent paying for catalogues and if I possibily can I graft
my own trees, often you getr ones not commercial around at all 9which might
not be an advantage in cider making). As I said most, I'm concentrating on
local cultivars and I dare not get distracted to too many cider cultivars
!! Mind you I ought to try a few French cidre cultivars I guess :)
I tend to use the older listings of apple cultivars as reference, they have
cost me too much not to ;)
Mel
Mark Shirley
> Kingston Black this year in cider types. Lots of others too, but not
> cider
> ones. Mine were chosen as cider types that were on offer , not terribily
> selective on cider taste I fear .
>
> Are` any of your cider apples red fleshed ones I read somewhere they often
> are.
>
> Mel
>
Have you seen this Mel? Perhaps you could help out:
http://fruitforum.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/pendragon-apple-has-anyone-heard-of-this/
Brown's Apple (sharp, aromatic cider apple) is frequently red-fleshed, and
can produce a lovely pink cider. We had some Whin Hill Brown's c/o Ray &
Gail, the colour was increadibly 'commercial', but the cider is probably a
little too sharp to take advantage of it.
Cheers, Mark
http://rockinghamforestcider.moonfruit.com/
http://rockinghamforestcider.blogspot.com/
Melanie Wilson
http://fruitforum.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/pendragon-apple-has-anyone-heard-of-this/
Not as yet, I'll take a look & try to help, although I have no graft
material until mine grows up a little ! The wood was very red as are the
leaves, I suspect it will be red fleshed.
>Brown's Apple (sharp, aromatic cider apple) is frequently red-fleshed,
Sops of Wine, Bloody Ploughman & Devonshire Quaddren are 3 others, with red
flesh, that spring to mind wich I think are used for Cider ? Or have been
in the past.