A winter's afternoon in the linear orchard. Dormant apple trees back-lit by the setting sun.
Walled garden, National Trust Quarry Bank, 13/01/26
#apples #orchard #NTQBfruit 📷: DT
Walled garden, National Trust Quarry Bank, 13/01/26
#apples #orchard #NTQBfruit 📷: DT
January 15, 2026 at 9:48 AM
A winter's afternoon in the linear orchard. Dormant apple trees back-lit by the setting sun.
Walled garden, National Trust Quarry Bank, 13/01/26
#apples #orchard #NTQBfruit 📷: DT
Walled garden, National Trust Quarry Bank, 13/01/26
#apples #orchard #NTQBfruit 📷: DT
Apple 'Ribston Pippin'. An early C18th introduction from Ribston Hall in Yorkshire, said to have been grown from a pip brought back from Rouen, France. Parent to 'Cox's Orange Pippin'.
Meant to ripen in late Sept, but I've tried one or two & they're pretty much ready to pick already.
#NTQBfruit
Meant to ripen in late Sept, but I've tried one or two & they're pretty much ready to pick already.
#NTQBfruit
September 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Apple 'Ribston Pippin'. An early C18th introduction from Ribston Hall in Yorkshire, said to have been grown from a pip brought back from Rouen, France. Parent to 'Cox's Orange Pippin'.
Meant to ripen in late Sept, but I've tried one or two & they're pretty much ready to pick already.
#NTQBfruit
Meant to ripen in late Sept, but I've tried one or two & they're pretty much ready to pick already.
#NTQBfruit
Apple 'Ashmead's Kernel'. Another early-ish October variety that's well worth the wait. A flavourful, juicy russet type that should store quite well, too.
#NTQBfruit #apples
#NTQBfruit #apples
September 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Apple 'Ashmead's Kernel'. Another early-ish October variety that's well worth the wait. A flavourful, juicy russet type that should store quite well, too.
#NTQBfruit #apples
#NTQBfruit #apples
The #apples on this veteran 'Worcester Pearmain' tree at work are bright red & look incredibly appetising. But I tried one earlier in the week & it was still quite hard, starchy, & very hard work to chew.
Goes to show: red does not always = ripe.
But patience definitely = a virtue 😇
#NTQBfruit
Goes to show: red does not always = ripe.
But patience definitely = a virtue 😇
#NTQBfruit
September 7, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The #apples on this veteran 'Worcester Pearmain' tree at work are bright red & look incredibly appetising. But I tried one earlier in the week & it was still quite hard, starchy, & very hard work to chew.
Goes to show: red does not always = ripe.
But patience definitely = a virtue 😇
#NTQBfruit
Goes to show: red does not always = ripe.
But patience definitely = a virtue 😇
#NTQBfruit
Cherry 'Morello' just starting to bloom on a north-facing, exterior wall, walled garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#blossom #NTQBfruit
#blossom #NTQBfruit
April 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Cherry 'Morello' just starting to bloom on a north-facing, exterior wall, walled garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#blossom #NTQBfruit
#blossom #NTQBfruit
Wall-trained fruit trees - peach, nectarine, apricot - basking in some most welcome sunshine this morning. Kitchen garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#NTQBfruit
#NTQBfruit
February 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Wall-trained fruit trees - peach, nectarine, apricot - basking in some most welcome sunshine this morning. Kitchen garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#NTQBfruit
#NTQBfruit
We've had a bit of snow down at Quarry Bank. Here's the linear #orchard in the kitchen garden yesterday, draped in a crisp, white blanket.
#NTQBfruit #apples #winter
#NTQBfruit #apples #winter
January 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
We've had a bit of snow down at Quarry Bank. Here's the linear #orchard in the kitchen garden yesterday, draped in a crisp, white blanket.
#NTQBfruit #apples #winter
#NTQBfruit #apples #winter
... and those are my favourites of 2024!
If you're vaguely interested in further musings on this year's apple harvest - and details of which varieties are in the selection photo - there's more on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/29/m...
#apples #allotment #NTQBfruit
If you're vaguely interested in further musings on this year's apple harvest - and details of which varieties are in the selection photo - there's more on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/29/m...
#apples #allotment #NTQBfruit
My Apple Harvest Highlights - 2024 Edition | Orchard Notes
It has been a very good year indeed for apples; here's my pick of the crop from our allotment, and the orchards at Quarry Bank.
orchardnotes.com
November 29, 2024 at 8:13 PM
... and those are my favourites of 2024!
If you're vaguely interested in further musings on this year's apple harvest - and details of which varieties are in the selection photo - there's more on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/29/m...
#apples #allotment #NTQBfruit
If you're vaguely interested in further musings on this year's apple harvest - and details of which varieties are in the selection photo - there's more on the blog:
orchardnotes.com/2024/11/29/m...
#apples #allotment #NTQBfruit
8/10 is 'Royal Jubilee' (1888)
A cooker rather than a dessert variety, but it turns out this one dries really, really well, retaining plenty of flavour in the process. Purées quite nicely, too.
#apples #NTQBfruit
A cooker rather than a dessert variety, but it turns out this one dries really, really well, retaining plenty of flavour in the process. Purées quite nicely, too.
#apples #NTQBfruit
November 29, 2024 at 8:13 PM
8/10 is 'Royal Jubilee' (1888)
A cooker rather than a dessert variety, but it turns out this one dries really, really well, retaining plenty of flavour in the process. Purées quite nicely, too.
#apples #NTQBfruit
A cooker rather than a dessert variety, but it turns out this one dries really, really well, retaining plenty of flavour in the process. Purées quite nicely, too.
#apples #NTQBfruit
6/10 is 'Pitmaston Pine Apple' (c.1785)
A wonderfully tasty little golden-russet apple, tried for the first time this year and already a fast favourite.
Thankfully it doesn't actually taste of pineapple (ick! yuck!), despite what you might have read. Not to me, at least.
#apples #NTQBfruit
A wonderfully tasty little golden-russet apple, tried for the first time this year and already a fast favourite.
Thankfully it doesn't actually taste of pineapple (ick! yuck!), despite what you might have read. Not to me, at least.
#apples #NTQBfruit
November 29, 2024 at 8:13 PM
6/10 is 'Pitmaston Pine Apple' (c.1785)
A wonderfully tasty little golden-russet apple, tried for the first time this year and already a fast favourite.
Thankfully it doesn't actually taste of pineapple (ick! yuck!), despite what you might have read. Not to me, at least.
#apples #NTQBfruit
A wonderfully tasty little golden-russet apple, tried for the first time this year and already a fast favourite.
Thankfully it doesn't actually taste of pineapple (ick! yuck!), despite what you might have read. Not to me, at least.
#apples #NTQBfruit
2/10 is 'Ellison's Orange' (1904), or possibly the sport 'Red Ellison's Orange' (1948).
This one looks great and tastes superb; a really distinct flavour with notes of aniseed. Another one I'll definitely be grafting this winter to add to the cordon trees on the #allotment.
#apples #NTQBfruit
This one looks great and tastes superb; a really distinct flavour with notes of aniseed. Another one I'll definitely be grafting this winter to add to the cordon trees on the #allotment.
#apples #NTQBfruit
November 29, 2024 at 8:13 PM
2/10 is 'Ellison's Orange' (1904), or possibly the sport 'Red Ellison's Orange' (1948).
This one looks great and tastes superb; a really distinct flavour with notes of aniseed. Another one I'll definitely be grafting this winter to add to the cordon trees on the #allotment.
#apples #NTQBfruit
This one looks great and tastes superb; a really distinct flavour with notes of aniseed. Another one I'll definitely be grafting this winter to add to the cordon trees on the #allotment.
#apples #NTQBfruit
1/10 is 'Court of Wick' (c.1790)
Not the most eye-catching apple, but anything it lacks in looks it more than makes up for with a really interesting flavour. I'll be grafting this one for my #allotment cordon collection this winter.
#apples #NTQBfruit
Not the most eye-catching apple, but anything it lacks in looks it more than makes up for with a really interesting flavour. I'll be grafting this one for my #allotment cordon collection this winter.
#apples #NTQBfruit
November 29, 2024 at 8:13 PM
1/10 is 'Court of Wick' (c.1790)
Not the most eye-catching apple, but anything it lacks in looks it more than makes up for with a really interesting flavour. I'll be grafting this one for my #allotment cordon collection this winter.
#apples #NTQBfruit
Not the most eye-catching apple, but anything it lacks in looks it more than makes up for with a really interesting flavour. I'll be grafting this one for my #allotment cordon collection this winter.
#apples #NTQBfruit
A winter morning #orchard scene, Apprentice House garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#apples #pears #plums #NTQBfruit
#apples #pears #plums #NTQBfruit
November 28, 2024 at 8:00 PM
A winter morning #orchard scene, Apprentice House garden, NT Quarry Bank.
#apples #pears #plums #NTQBfruit
#apples #pears #plums #NTQBfruit
November 28, 2024 at 7:57 PM
November 14, 2024 at 10:06 AM
I've been indulging in a round of 'guess the mystery apple'. It's definitely not 'Rosemary Russet' (as labelled), but what else could it be..?
orchardnotes.com/2024/09/29/a...
#orchard #NTQBfruit #apples 🌱
orchardnotes.com/2024/09/29/a...
#orchard #NTQBfruit #apples 🌱
September 29, 2024 at 8:01 AM
I've been indulging in a round of 'guess the mystery apple'. It's definitely not 'Rosemary Russet' (as labelled), but what else could it be..?
orchardnotes.com/2024/09/29/a...
#orchard #NTQBfruit #apples 🌱
orchardnotes.com/2024/09/29/a...
#orchard #NTQBfruit #apples 🌱
Apple 'Upton Pyne'. Very pretty striping, but could still be a bit under-ripe, as this one was juicy but lacking in flavour. Hopefully the parakeets will leave a few for another week or two so we can see if it improves.
#NTQBfruit #orchard 🌱
#NTQBfruit #orchard 🌱
September 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Apple 'Upton Pyne'. Very pretty striping, but could still be a bit under-ripe, as this one was juicy but lacking in flavour. Hopefully the parakeets will leave a few for another week or two so we can see if it improves.
#NTQBfruit #orchard 🌱
#NTQBfruit #orchard 🌱
Apple 'Ellison's Orange'. Absolutely delicious: a deep flavour to match its deep red colouring, w. notes of aniseed and bitter orange. One problem this year: didn't keep at all well, went soft inside a week, but that could be caused by wet weather.
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard 🌱
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard 🌱
September 13, 2024 at 7:27 PM
Apple 'Ellison's Orange'. Absolutely delicious: a deep flavour to match its deep red colouring, w. notes of aniseed and bitter orange. One problem this year: didn't keep at all well, went soft inside a week, but that could be caused by wet weather.
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard 🌱
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard 🌱
Apple 'Pitmaston Pine Apple'. Still not quite ripe, but very nearly ready. Won't be long now...
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard
September 8, 2024 at 6:15 PM
Apple 'Pitmaston Pine Apple'. Still not quite ripe, but very nearly ready. Won't be long now...
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard
#NTQBfruit #apples #orchard
On the left: 'Rosemary Russet' #apples on our #allotment cordon.
On the right: the 'Rosemary Russet' tree at work that's not showing much in the way of russeting.
I'm thinking the tree on our plot is looking a fair bit truer to type at the moment... 🤔
#orchard #NTQBfruit
On the right: the 'Rosemary Russet' tree at work that's not showing much in the way of russeting.
I'm thinking the tree on our plot is looking a fair bit truer to type at the moment... 🤔
#orchard #NTQBfruit
September 8, 2024 at 6:02 PM
On the left: 'Rosemary Russet' #apples on our #allotment cordon.
On the right: the 'Rosemary Russet' tree at work that's not showing much in the way of russeting.
I'm thinking the tree on our plot is looking a fair bit truer to type at the moment... 🤔
#orchard #NTQBfruit
On the right: the 'Rosemary Russet' tree at work that's not showing much in the way of russeting.
I'm thinking the tree on our plot is looking a fair bit truer to type at the moment... 🤔
#orchard #NTQBfruit
Apple 'Worcester Pearmain'. A classic Victorian dessert apple, raised c. 1874 nr. Worcester. Crunchy, sweet with a good acid bite.
Still slightly under-ripe, but so close now... 😋
#orchard #apples #NTQBfruit
Still slightly under-ripe, but so close now... 😋
#orchard #apples #NTQBfruit
September 8, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Apple 'Worcester Pearmain'. A classic Victorian dessert apple, raised c. 1874 nr. Worcester. Crunchy, sweet with a good acid bite.
Still slightly under-ripe, but so close now... 😋
#orchard #apples #NTQBfruit
Still slightly under-ripe, but so close now... 😋
#orchard #apples #NTQBfruit
Another potential problem caused by not thinning your #apples, and leaving too many apples in a cluster. If one is damaged and brown rot sets in, it can quickly spread to the nearby fruits.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
#NTQBfruit #orchard
September 8, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Another potential problem caused by not thinning your #apples, and leaving too many apples in a cluster. If one is damaged and brown rot sets in, it can quickly spread to the nearby fruits.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
#NTQBfruit #orchard
One of the perils of not thinning #apples quite rigorously enough: a snapped branch on our 'Charles Ross' tree, caused by the combo of the weight of fruit + high winds last week.
Not entirely surprising though, those are some big, beautiful apples.
#NTQBfruit #orchard #apples
Not entirely surprising though, those are some big, beautiful apples.
#NTQBfruit #orchard #apples
September 8, 2024 at 5:37 PM
One of the perils of not thinning #apples quite rigorously enough: a snapped branch on our 'Charles Ross' tree, caused by the combo of the weight of fruit + high winds last week.
Not entirely surprising though, those are some big, beautiful apples.
#NTQBfruit #orchard #apples
Not entirely surprising though, those are some big, beautiful apples.
#NTQBfruit #orchard #apples
Apple 'Egremont Russet'. Another classic Victorian variety, first recorded in 1872, ready in late Sept.
Here in the UK this is probably the only russet-style apple you'll see in supermarkets. Well worth picking up a few if and when you do.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
Here in the UK this is probably the only russet-style apple you'll see in supermarkets. Well worth picking up a few if and when you do.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
August 28, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Apple 'Egremont Russet'. Another classic Victorian variety, first recorded in 1872, ready in late Sept.
Here in the UK this is probably the only russet-style apple you'll see in supermarkets. Well worth picking up a few if and when you do.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
Here in the UK this is probably the only russet-style apple you'll see in supermarkets. Well worth picking up a few if and when you do.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
Apple 'Charles Ross'. Good size, very nice colouring, still far too green to be ripe, but hopefully ready in a couple of weeks, maybe a little longer if the weather isn't kind. I'm looking forward to sampling this one.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
#NTQBfruit #orchard
August 28, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Apple 'Charles Ross'. Good size, very nice colouring, still far too green to be ripe, but hopefully ready in a couple of weeks, maybe a little longer if the weather isn't kind. I'm looking forward to sampling this one.
#NTQBfruit #orchard
#NTQBfruit #orchard