Apples aint just Apples

We have solved the mystery surrounding the varieties of the three large old overgrown apple trees in the garden.  The solution, like all good solutions, was simple, ask the man who planted them all those years ago. 

Cox’s Orange Pippin. 

This is my favourite, a smaller crisp apple with exceptional flavour at its best when picked fully ripe straight from the tree. This is widely regarded as the classic English apple, often regarded as the finest of all apples and remains unsurpassed for its richness and complexity of flavour. This is the benchmark against which all others are measured.

This winter we will definitely be planting some more Cox’s Orange Pippins.

Cox's Orange Pippin

 Mutsu

A native of Japan the Mutsu is a large golden apple with a crisp white flesh, good flavour, lots of juice and is one of a small number of varieties which really is dual purpose - both for eating fresh and cooking. This is my second preference after the Cox’s Orange Pippin. The Mutsu is highly susceptible to the disease Blister Spot. The disease is caused by a bacterium that thrives in a wet cool summer- just like we have had. About 70% of the apples have the characteristic black rotting spots so these go straight to the pigs.

Our Mutsu is such a prolific bearer, even the possums can’t seem to make much impression.   

Mutsu

And last of all is a Red Delicious. Quite a nice apple eaten straight off the tree, it is probably the least suited to the home garden as its fruit all seem to ripen at the same time.

This is in contrast to the Mutsu and the Cox’s Orange Pippin, which continually ripen fruit over a 2-month period. 

Red Delicious

When eaten straight from the tree all of these apples are far superior to the supermarket varieties. It seems fresh really is best.