Apple Day

Did you know its Apple Day on October 21? It has been celebrated on this day every year since it was initiated by Common Ground in 1990.

Ninety per cent of Somerset’s orchards have been lost since 1945.

One of the reasons for this is that most orchards were used for making cider for farmhouse consumption. In those days people had extended families and work forces that could be paid in cider. It was also a substitute for the water.

Now people don’t have large families, are not allowed to pay employees in cider and, obviously water is cleaner.

As farming and social practice has changed, orchards have been neglected. The old farmhouse has completely altered. The farmer may even have sold the house and moved elsewhere. These trees that get blown over are often sawn up to keep them tidy.

Orchards also provided protection for livestock. In the past they gave shelter to young animals such as lambs and calves and provided a stockyard next to the farmhouse. Now farmers have sheds and huts for the job.

October is also a great time to plant fruit trees so why not mark Apple Day by beginning a new venture to grow your own tasty apples?

To commemorate the occasion, our Plant Manager, Andrew Pitman, has selected some of his favourite varieties to share with you…

Cox’s Orange Pippin Self Fertile

This popular eating apple has heavy crops year after year. It has excellent flavour and should be picked early in October.

Red Falstaff

Red Falstaff has a fruity, well-balanced flavour and is crisp and juicy. It is also frost resistant and self fertile. Pick this variety in early October.

Discovery

This sweet and crisp apple has a good flavour and early ripening. With pretty red skin and white flesh, these apples should be picked mid-August.

Christmas Pippin

This is an exceptionally high quality eating apple. Christmas Pippin flowers and crops heavily and the apples keep well until Christmas.

Red Windsor®

A superb Cox-type flavour and very heavy crops. Pick and eat straight from the tree in mid-September.