English Apples - Wibtoft Pippin
This is an apple I found in Wibtoft, Leicestershire, on an ancient dilapidated tree covered in brambles and undergrowth. The apples are late, hanging well into December.
There is no trace of a graft but the tree is old (around 70 years) so it may have disappeared. For the time being I have called this apple Wibtoft Pippin. It does not resemble any well-known apple or any Leicestershire apple with which I'm familiar. It is medium size, flattened round, falls off the tree in late October, goes yellow but remains firm in December, by which time it is palateable as an eating apple. I have not yet done a vitamin C analysis. It appears to be biennial.
The tree has been propagated. My brother has one, four years old on MM106, and I have another, 3 years old, on the same stock.
Pictures (click on small images for detail):
Blossom
Fruit
compiled by Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
