Apples: News, 2024
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Events and our Leicestershire Heritage Apples news are on our Leicester Heritage Apples page. Note that we put updates at the TOP.
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APPLE TASTINGS 2024
I've just done another apple tasting session with Julie at the Marina; this will be going online soon.
5 Sep 24
ODD WEATHER
It's been a strange year for weather; too much rain in the Spring and early Summer; then low light levels for most of July and August. This has resulted in a lot of mildew on our apple seedlings, plus premature ripening of certain varieties: Laxton's Fortune is 3 weeks early; Redlove is a fortnight early; Bramleys are dropping like crazy because of sawfly; same with Langton's Nonesuch and Queen Caroline. Also, most of the late varieties are having a year off. It seems there won't be many apples to store this winter.
1 Sep 24
POLLINATION HAS BEGUN
Hand-pollinations for our apple breeding started in earnest on 6 April with Burford Redflesh, Xmas Pink and Dubbleman all being in flower. Pink Pearl is usually first but this year its first flowers were on 7th April. Seems that my prediction of 18 Feb (below) was accurate!
8 Apr 24
BLOSSOM DATES
Early Malus (crab-apple types) were coming into flower on 5 Mar; full flower on 12 Mar.
12 Mar 24
BLOSSOM DATES
Not a lot to report at the moment (18 Feb) but I note that our early-flowering plum is now in blossom ( since 16 Feb) which is quite early, so it looks like apple blossom may also be early. There has been a lot of rain recently, and the temperature is mild; around 13-14C most days for the last week. I anticipate a start date of around 7 Apr for our early-blossomers like Pink Pearl and Webster.
18 Feb 24
