For Apple Day: Eat your way to the river
It's Apple Day, one of my favourite days of the year and what better way to celebrate than to tell you about my recent trip to Longney, where Gloucestershire Orchard Trust have 18 acres of apple orchard under their tender care. Here you'll find older orchards with some trees well over a century old, plus their newer plantings of around 94 Gloucestershire cultivars which have just acquired national plant collection status at Plant Heritage . The jury's out on the actual number as DNA testing has revealed at least one locally named variety is actually a more well known one: Ribston Pippin in this case. Don't worry, there are dozens there which definitely have their origins rooted firmly in Gloucestershire and their cultivation at Longney is vital to their continued presence and preservation. There were around 200 local varieties at one time and today it's around 100 still in existence. Steve Mason - the Trust's Curator - was our knowledgeable guide who invited ...
Good crop - anyone would think you were in the US!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen - they did go a bit mad this year. I shall be looking to our American blogging pals for recipes ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, they're wonderful. Well done you. And they'll make a lovely autumn display.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ - this was going to be my post for Halloween, but I found something rather marvellous to show you instead whilst in Wales last week!
DeleteThey look good, what variety are they. I grew a mini variety one year but haven't since. Perhaps next year. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteHi Flighty - they're Jack be Little and the size is perfect for us. I'm going to try and recreate a fab squash salad I had at the Yeo Valley Organic Garden a couple of weeks ago.
DeleteMy Nepalese allotment neighbour wants to try this variety next year too!
Lovely display have a good rest of week and weekend
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, you too
ReplyDeleteNow that's a seriously good haul and the purple really enhances their golden glow VP. Flighty took the words out of my mouth asking about which variety they are,
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, I love the smaller squash - perfect for just NAH and me :)
DeleteVery colourful. Guess they are the ones that were rampant!
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed!
DeleteVery nice!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful color!
Lea
Thanks Lea - BB it's Salad Days tomorrow :)
DeleteHah that should be NB - Damn autocorrect!
DeleteLovely photo and good harvest. I have never attempted growing squash, haven’t really got the right garden for it but I like eating them :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Helene - I hope to feature them in a seasonal recipe soon :)
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