Search found 14 matches

by Stephen Horsfall
Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:20 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Ripe enough for Cider?
Replies: 4
Views: 12721

Re: Ripe enough for Cider?

It might be a good idea to bung in some wild crab apples, to give astrigency, otherwise the cider might be a bit bland, but don't overdo it, as I did last year, when my cider was too bitter: the textbooks say about 10% of the total by weight, so that's what I'm going by this year. I should add that ...
by Stephen Horsfall
Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:14 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Ripe enough for Cider?
Replies: 4
Views: 12721

Re: Ripe enough for Cider?

If the seeds aren't dark, they're not fully ripe. According to my apple bible, 'The New Book of Apples' by Morgan and Richards, Lodi is early, and ready to pick in late July to mid August, so that one's about ready; Gravenstein is early September, so that wants a few more weeks; Jonathan is early Oc...
by Stephen Horsfall
Tue Jul 21, 2015 5:31 am
Forum: Fruit Trees and Orchard Maintenance
Topic: Late cropping trees, UK
Replies: 4
Views: 11617

Re: Late cropping trees, UK

Bramley is supposed to be picked in autumn, but I missed a couple last year, and they were still hanging in January, when I finally picked them.
by Stephen Horsfall
Sun Jul 12, 2015 4:18 pm
Forum: Archives
Topic: Johnny Appleseed Stories
Replies: 2
Views: 21908

Re: Johnny Appleseed Stories

Why isn't there an apple cultivar named after him?
by Stephen Horsfall
Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:54 pm
Forum: Fruit Trees and Orchard Maintenance
Topic: Tip or spur bearing?
Replies: 2
Views: 9356

Re: Tip or spur bearing?

According to 'The New Book of Apples', by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards, both are spur bearers, but it says that 'Reinette Clochard' is a triploid, which means it won't pollenate 'King of the Pippins', so you need a third suitable pollen partner, so that it and KotP can pollenate RC and each other...
by Stephen Horsfall
Mon May 25, 2015 11:58 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: So much blossom.
Replies: 7
Views: 15797

Re: So much blossom.

I'm not an expert, but I think it's recommended to pre-empt the June drop, because then you can get rid of the small and misshapen fruitlets. The June drop is less discriminating. It's certainly not essential, though: I never do it on my full-size, mature 'james Grieve', because it's much too big to...
by Stephen Horsfall
Mon May 25, 2015 8:42 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: How to get started as a true apple lover?
Replies: 4
Views: 12079

Re: How to get started as a true apple lover?

Get hold of this book, which is the aspple-lover's bible, and contact these chaps, who have one of the most, if not the most, extensive collections of rare apples (and common ones) in the world.
by Stephen Horsfall
Mon May 25, 2015 8:19 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: So much blossom.
Replies: 7
Views: 15797

Re: So much blossom.

I've been recording my blossom dates on the O.P. register, as well. My 'Brownlees' Russet' is out of order, though: my earliest flowerer is supposed to be 'Egremont Russet', but Brownlees opened its first blossom four days before Egremont, and they were at maximum blossom, as far as I could estimate...
by Stephen Horsfall
Mon May 25, 2015 8:12 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Apples Are GOOD For You!
Replies: 6
Views: 15254

Re: Apples Are GOOD For You!

I may be squeezing one or two more apples into my garden, as cordons or fans against a south-east facing fence. Calville Blanche d'Hiver is a serious contender, but against it is the fact that it needs a hot summer in the UK to ripen fully.
by Stephen Horsfall
Tue May 12, 2015 4:51 pm
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Apples Are GOOD For You!
Replies: 6
Views: 15254

Re: Apples Are GOOD For You!

Indeed - as I wrote on the "Red Delicious..." thread: Lawrence D. Hills, doyen of organic gardening and founder of the Henry Doubleday Research Association, in his book 'Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables' (1971), gives a list of mainly British apples ordered by vit. C content in mgs per 1...
by Stephen Horsfall
Tue May 12, 2015 3:38 pm
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Red Delicious apple chemicals very valuable
Replies: 2
Views: 7547

Re: Red Delicious apple chemicals very valuable

Lawrence D. Hills, doyen of organic gardening and founder of the Henry Doubleday Research Association, in his book 'Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables' (1971), gives a list of mainly British apples ordered by vit. C content in mgs per 100 gms. 'Ribston Pippin' heads the list at 30.00, and 'Calville ...
by Stephen Horsfall
Tue May 12, 2015 3:24 pm
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: So much blossom.
Replies: 7
Views: 15797

Re: So much blossom.

Lots of blossom on my trees in Hertfordshire, UK - I hope the harvest will be good. Last year was excellent, as well.
by Stephen Horsfall
Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:52 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Apples Are GOOD For You!
Replies: 6
Views: 15254

Re: Apples Are GOOD For You!

Especially 'Ribston Pippin', which has one of the highest Vitamin C contents of any apple.
by Stephen Horsfall
Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:49 am
Forum: Apples, Cider and Variety and Other Fruit Questions
Topic: Apple Varieties true from Seed ?
Replies: 3
Views: 11038

Re: Apple Varieties true from Seed ?

Presumably all these varieties are self-fertile to some degree.