Poll poll poll poll poll!!!!

[Holly]

Hello Grapevine,

Apples have well and truly taken over the office, and we just can't get enough of them!

As such - the apple poll has been reopened and we're looking for MORE VOTES.

We're always keen to hear what you think, so if you want to suggest one that isn't on there, or explain your choice then please scribble something below.

Thanks very much!!

Holly

[SueA]

Hi Holly, my favourite one to actually grow isn't on the list it's 'Red Devil' which I grow in a pot. It doesn't always have a big crop but that's probably because I don't feed it enough, this year it's only got 3 apples on it after 'June drop' but they are very tasty!

[Nicos]

Cor blimey- I've not eaven heard of half of those- never mind tasted them!
( must get out more!!!)

I like earthy ,thick skinned apples which actually taste of apple- but not too tart.

I've love to know where there are apple tasting demonstrations- it'd be a great experience!

[vicky]

I like Spartan best (another not on your list) as it produces small (child size) bright red apples that stay on the tree right through the winter. I remember a few years ago picking these whilst snow was on the ground. They are crisp and juicy and not too sweet. Perfect!

[northmaid]

I've gone for Lord Lambourne, it suits the conditions here in the North, it has produced decent sized fruit in it's second year (not a lot but enough), I like the crisp texture and the balanced flavour and, fingers crossed, I haven't had any signs of pest or diseases.

[valmarg]

How do I amend my vote to add Peasgood Nonesuch. I must have missed it when reading through the list. An all time favourite dual purpose, but I love it as an eater. Crisp, tart/sweet, juicy.

valmarg

[rachyrach]

To taste some of the more unusual ones, Nicos, you could try the apple festival at Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent. Its the home of the national fruit collection,Oct 23-24th I think.....

[valmarg]

Cor blimey-
I've love to know where there are apple tasting demonstrations- it'd be a great experience!

A quick 'off the top of my head' reply is Brogdale Horticultural Trust. I think they have 'apple days' in September/October. They are usually mentioned in the RHS magazine The Garden, but for more information you should log on to www.rhs.org.uk

valmarg

[northepaul]

I just love apple trees!! They are very distinctive looking - knarled and rough, especially when older.
I recently visited Mary Arden's Farm at Stratford, which has a fabulous orchard you can walk through.

Anyhow:

I have voted for discovery because our local farm shop stocks locally grown ones at the end of this month, and they are so sweet and crisp. (And my daughter loves the pink flesh!)
I have an Irish Peach (not on the list) that was planted last year in a pot, it was recomended as the best flavoured eater by my local nursery. I have 3 apples on it!! The blossom was beautiful too, so it's not only a practical tree, its also decorative!!
I am going to be planting a culinary apple tree in the autumn - mainly because I buy quite a lot of cooking apples and they are quite expensive. The variety I am looking at is Annie Elizabeth (again not on the list) which (apparently) has an abundance of pink blossom too.

[susieq100]

What? Only one vote? Yes I know it says favourite, but that won't do. Apples are my favourite fruit - so much depends upon the time of year we're eating them. Where is Crispin? Where is Spartan? Neither of those on the list

There was an apple grower in Herefordshire when I lived there - Breinton Manor Fruit. I'm not sure if they are still trading, I hope so, but they grew a lot of different varieties and you could go in, have a taste (like you do with cheese in a deli) and then buy 5 or 10lbs of whatever you liked. I miss them and although I have 3 trees down at the allotment, I don't have room for any more! It is one of my retirement ambitions to have a small orchard. If you've only ever eaten a supermarket apple .... you haven't eaten an apple IMHO.

[Strawberry delight]

My favorite is not on the list i think its called cox or somthing similar- i know someone who grows them, they are very lumpy and bumpy and taste GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Holly]

Thanks everyone! Some really lovely recommendations here - we'll have to try some of the more obscure ones in the office.

I really agree Strawberry Delight. For me at least, the best fruit and veg are the knarly and knobbly kind that look a bit funky!

Keep the suggestions coming, it's great to hear what grow-your-owners go for.

[Comfreyfan]

What a tough one! I've voted for Discovery because I'm picking them right now and it's stunning to have a crisp (very crisp), tasty, fresh, straight of the tree apple - they're probably not the tastiest and they don't keep, but after months of eating stored apples or apples shipped around the world they seem to wake your mouth up and remind you how apples should be

[FB.]

I like a number of apple varieties, since each variety has a mixture of good points and bad points, which have to be balanced with your requirements for such things as:


cookers, eaters, juicers

reliable crops

early-ripening, mid-ripening, late-ripening

attractive growth habit, attractive blossom, attractive fruit

resistance to pests, diseases, frosts or other harsh conditions

..........................

[Holly]

Yes, you're definitely right FB - choosing the best apple is not a simple task!

I guess it differs depending on where you live in the country too, as growing conditions can be so varied.

Well, the time to let us know is rapidly running out, and there's only a couple of days left now to register a vote for the poll... So if you have any feelings on the subject make them heard!

(and, of course, thanks so much for all the great posts so far)