Apple trees! It sometimes pays to be tough. Have you tried it?
By Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
June 12, 2009 5:54am CST
The apple trees in the picture are a James Grieve in the foreground and behind it a Cox's Orange. The James Grieve has regularly produced fruit but had grown quite straggly. The Cox's had not produced anything in the last 6 years or so. In spring I considered taking the Cox's completely away but decided to give it one last chance and I cut it back to less than half it's size. I did the same with the other to improve it's shape. Both trees are now absolutely laden with apples.
The James Grieve is a very tasty crisp apple. The Cox's is also tasty but harder.
I did not just randomly hack off branches here and there but cut carefully where I thought it would produce new shoots and also cut a lot away from the centre to give them more air and light. They have both responded well to my very harsh treatment and will provide my friends and family with all the lovely sweet apples they can eat.
For cooking apples I have the 71 year old Booskop.
If you have an old apple tree do not be frightened to give it a severe "short back and sides".
3 responses
@Colmuc (707)
•
12 Jun 09
Hi catdla, Thanks for responding. I have not yet solved the problem. Some suggested making sorbet and I found an easy recipe but it might be better to use the sweet apples for that. Will have to check what I need to make cider. Problem is that I am usually only at the house where my garden is at the weekend. So anything that needs regular watching is a problem. I love cider and it is not available here so it would be a great solution.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
12 Jun 09
The traditional method is to mash the apples and use a press to squeeze the juice out. Here is an article on making small batches without needing a lot of equipment. Basically you run it through your food processor and then squeeze the juice out using a fine-mesh bag and a rolling pin. (INFORMATIN ONLY) http://extension.missouri.edu/harrison/tasteofharvest/making_and_preserving_apple_cider.htm
When I used to live in the New England/New York areas, there was a farmer who used old printing presses for his cider. If you like hard cider, here's an article on that too. (INFORMATION ONLY) http://www.ostgardr.org/brewing/richard.cider.html
@Colmuc (707)
•
12 Jun 09
Hi Lakota, nice to hear from you again. I don't think peaches would grow here except in a heated glass house. Too bad because I love them. I have almost no blackcurrants or damsons on the trees this year but will, in the next couple of weeks, have pailfuls of raspberries.
@kalaga (547)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Your photo looks sooo beautiful.I am glad that both trees are doing fabulous job of producing apples for ur family and friends.i want to plant an apple tree.but in the last decided to go for pear.i cannot wait for it to grow.next season may be i will plant one.i will definitely keep in mind your advice and pass it to other who want it.thanks for sharing ur experience and photo.
@Colmuc (707)
•
13 Jun 09
Hi kalaga, I hope your pear tree grows well. We used to say plant pears for your heirs because they took so long to start fruiting. Modern varieties fruit much quicker now. Don't forget that some varieties of fruit need a mate of a different variety to cross pollinate so the fruit sets. Is your pear tree self polinating?
