Fruit trees at Skinners Cottage

When we first moved to Skinners Cottage, the only fruit trees were in what is now called the spring garden,  this is the area next to the stables and had a plum, three apple trees and a lovely pollinator.  We sadly lost the pollinator and one of the apple trees but the plum has not only survived, it has flourished and 2020 has been an exceptional year as recipients of the excess will know.   We don’t know what it is but it is early and our best guess is that it is either a Czar or an Opal.

 

The two remaining apple trees are (probably)  a Beauty of Bath which is also an early fruiter but it does not keep.  Indeed it suffers from June drop but it is always good to use to make a pudding.   Last weekend I used the remaining windfalls to make an oat and apple dish which I found on the web having looked for a recipe which was gluten free.     It is a layered mixture of oats, nuts (finely grated) and sugar and apple and then rather than having to fold in the butter or use a processor you simply add a layer of thickish slices of butter on top and bake.  It is easy and delicious and it also works for plums with just a top layer of the oats as a form of crumble (quantities available if anyone is interested). 

 

In the last 10 years, I have planted a lot of additional fruit trees in the paddock (now more accurately referred to as the South Garden).  Firstly, I ordered two bare root Mirabelle de Nancy from the only stockist I could find in the UK;  visitors to French markets will have seen these pretty yellow cherry plums, but I have never seen them for sale in the UK.  I was very concerned when the trees arrived in late May (during what I recall was pretty hot weather), but they took off and have been grown to be a good size and have an amazing amount of fruit on them this year.  

I now have a third three which is slightly smaller, but may well catch up fast.   We have a further large plum, two greengages, Both with fruit for almost the first time) several apples, a damson tree and two figs.   

All are fruiting well this year;  the only disappointment on the fruit front are the two pears,  both of which appeared as normal to have lots of small fruit on,  but all the fruit has completely disappeared.    Anyway, we have more than enough fruit to last the entire year.  

Best wishes

Rosemary