The Orchard

 I’m noting here which tree is which so we don’t forget! 

All are from left to right starting from the top

1st row: Old apple, Old fallen over apple, 5 year old Bramley apple

2nd row: New Falstaff, 5 year old Falstaff (which may be just rootstock as it died back), 5 year old Rubinette, Old russet apple, Crab Apple

3rd row: New bramley, 5 year old rosette, new rubinette, new winter gem

4th row: New boscoop, going to add a new rosette here

We need to get some protection round the new trees for when the sheep pass through

Preserving things

We have many many apples so I have tried pasturising some juice. I haven't done very much in case it doesn't work out, if it does we will do more next year. For some reason it tastes more sour than the same juice not pasturised, I will have to add a little sugar next time.

This is our juicer, it is good because you can put whole apples in it, however it makes quite a mess and makes very foamy juice that has to be allowed to settle then the juice poured out from under the foam to get the lovely clear juice.

I also made Rose-hip and Apple Jelly with rose-hips we picked up in the mountains. It didn't use that many apples as we only had enough rose-hips for one jar.

Not apple related I made some mango chutney as I am on a never ending mission to find the right recipe. It needs to mature a bit before we find out, but it is looking better than previous versions (they all come out looking too much like mango and not as clear and shiny looking as 'real' mango chutney. This lot was made with very ripe mangos which I think could be the difference. I should have boiled the fruit a bit more before adding the sugar and I think more sugar would give a better texture possibly. However I expect it to taste good.

Autumn!

The apples are starting to ripen, so are the pears and the horses have started to grow a thicker coat.

We have just eaten windfalls so far.

They all tend to be a bit gnarly looking whether windfall or still on the tree. I wonder if there is some fungus thing we should spray for.

Pears don't ripen well on the tree.

I just picked a few to see how they get on ripening. Some came of really easily, some less so.

Bramley is looking healthy despite setback over last winter of being blown over.

There are a couple of mature trees with plenty of apples.

I found some thyme in the orchard - when I stepped on it and could smell it.

Windfalls off a smaller russet tree. Not planted by us - bigger than that. It takes quite a few years for them to get going.

Long way to go until he reaches full fuzzy winter Owen, but his coat is definitely feeling thicker - and he is shedding all over the place, presumably the summer coat.