APPLE TREES DESSERT F.

Jul 31, 2013 by admin

When we plant apple trees it is often thought of as “a plant it forget it job” which is one of the worst things you could do towards an apple tree, as apple trees like most other plants, will respond to the  treatment you give them, For instance would you want to be picking the apple from a tree 100 ft high? or do you want the apple tree encroaching  on your neighbours property? I think you will readily agree that the answers are a definite no. In which case you should consider pruning your apple tree each year, some of the good reasons for this action will deter the questions above, similarly pruning will allow a better growing shape of your apple tree and give a better crop of apples, you should consider light  pruning of the tree in it’s young and tender years, couple with the training of the branches especially espaliers or cordons.

Another consideration is feeding the apple tree, after all you do feed your loved ones a lot more often, you could feed the apple tree with a liquid fertilizer or a mulch around the root area, all of which can give you a  better crop of apples on your tree.

You perhaps realise by now the great number of apple varieties and why I have split them alphabetically, my other reason is to indicate to you the marvellous types of apple tree available to you coupled with the varying flavours.

Apple tree FALLAWATER.

The Fallawater apple tree originated in Bucks County Pennsylvania around the mid 1800s. Ready for  harvesting in mid October, the Fallawater apple tree bears a large green apple that turns a light shade of green when ripe, and although this apple is classed as a dessert apple, The Fallawater apple  can make exceptionally good apple sauce and is good for most culinary uses.

Sometimes the Fallawater apple will grow to 6 inches in diameter and has a sub acid to mildly sweet flavour.

Apple tree FALL PIPPIN.

                Also known as Pound Pippin, the Fall Pippin is thought to be an American apple, dating back to the early 1800s the origins are unknown but the Fall Pippin was once a very popular apple especially in Shenandoah Valley as the Fall Pippin apple was a favourite early winter apple.

Producing a large oblongish shaped fruit. the Fall Pippin apple has a clear yellow skin, with white flesh having a slight tinge of yellow, but, when you bite into the Fall Pippin  you will find it not only tender but juicidly aromatic. Ripening in August to September, the Fall Pippin is sometimes confused wth the Holland Pippin, Which is only good for using in culinary dishes, on the other hand Fall Pippin is not only of better quality but ripens later.

Apple tree FANNY.

Probably named after someone’s wife, as Fanny was a popular name around 1869 when it was thought to have originated by Dr John K Eshelman of Lancaster County inPennsylvania. The Fanny apple tree is a vigorous and productive tree bearing a medium to large slightly ribbed apple, with a wonderful colouring, for the apple of Fanny has a thin smooth yellow skin virtually covered with crimson and dark red stripes, with a yellowish white flesh having a reddish stain  under the skin, ripening in June/July.

Apple tree FIRESIDE.

                    The cross between the Mcintosh apple and the Longfield apple produced the Fireside apple in 1943. The Fireside apple produces a large conical fruit that can be harvested in October, with a green skin having scarlet stripes, which have at times a mottled orange flush, but the crisp juicy flesh of Fireside apples are a yellowish white, being sweet this  makes Fireside an excellent eating apple.

Apple tree FORTUNE.

At times known as Laxton’s fortune it is a cross  between the apple Cox’s Orange and the Wealthy apple in  1904, ready for harvesting early to mid season, the Fortune apple tree spurs quite freely and is resistant to most diseases except the European canker in NZ, UK and US to which it is susceptible. The Fortune apple has an excellent sweet, aromatic flavour which is crisp at first, but if you leave the Fortune apple on the trees a little longer they become softer.

Apple tree FREYBURG.

      The Freyburg Apple was first produced by J.H.Kidd of New Zealand in 1934, an apple of oustanding extra ordinary flavour,probably brought about by the crossing of the Golden Delicious apple and Cox’s Orange apple. The Freyburg Apple tree produces a small fruit, but should you thin the apples out in early season they will be of a medium size.

A light yellow apple, the Freyburg has a distinct  flavour which  includes aniseed that can become stronger if  you leave the apples on the tree, similarly if you leave the  Freyburg apples on the tree longer the outstanding flavour goes from sweet to very sweet. The flavour of the Freyburg apple has been compared to the Benedictine liqueur flavour.

As we grow a little older we tend to forget the  games we played as children using apples such as:-

Dunkin Apples. Place one or two apples in a bucket full of water, and see which child (or team of children can bite an apple first, of course their hands must be behind their back at all times.

Swinging Apples.  Hang apples on a string (dependant  how  many  want to  play) suspended from tree branches or a  line ( so the apples are about level with their mouth) they must then be blind folded, with their hands behind their backs and whoever bites first are the winners, please do give them dessert apples and not bitter ones! ( yes I did have bitter ones when I played).

I am sure there are many apple games to play, but these could be played on hot or chilly evenings, at little cost but  with a great entertainment value.

FRED.