Thursday, October 31, 2019
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019
E5 HD RD
Will, from Central Massachusetts, sent me these (and some other apples) from his home orchard seeking to know what they might be.
They are from his tree E5 and are supposed to be Red Delicious ("RD") from a tree purchased from Home Depot ("HD"). You do not have to be a pomologist to know these are not those.
So, what are they?
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Three more from Josh
I've already written about the first three of the six, which included a second bite for me of Tompkins King.
There was also a mystery apple that I think could be the great Ashmead's Kernel. (Others disagree.)
The second trio, below, also includes one apple that Josh knows for sure. It is Kingston Black, a famous cider apple.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Will's 1920
Today I am tasting the first of a shipment of mystery apples from Will, who grew these in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, near Worcester.
Will got ahold of me hoping for some help IDing his crop.
I warned him that he'd probably be disappointed, since I'm not much of an apple sleuth. He sent his apples anyway. The provisional names are his.
Monday, October 21, 2019
It's raining apples
The apple blogger's complaint
Clockwise from right: Ashmead's Kernel, Macoun, Wickson, Baldwin |
It is glorious October! At this point in the season my refrigerator overflows with Ashmead's Kernel, Macoun, Wickson, and Baldwin.
But can I eat them? I can not.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Ashmead's Kernel mystery
The purpose of today's apple adventure is not to decide which is best, but rather what is what.
I spotted some similarities between Ashmead's Kernel and an unidentified variety that came my way.
Some of you, gentle readers, begged to differ.
So, I report, you decide. What is this guy?
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Three from Josh
This past summer Josh sent me what was probably Duchess of Oldenburg from his Eastern Washington orchard.
Josh thought so too. Hey, I got one right! And now the floodgates are opened.
I do not mind at all (far from it), but for the record let me explain why I probably cannot identify your mystery apple even if I have one to taste.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Tompkins King
When a reader named Josh packed up a care package for me from his orchard in western Washington, he threw in Tompkins King (aka King) because I had said (in my 2013 review) that I would like to try it again.
This Tompkins is large, ribbed, and classically shaped, if a bit broad in the beam.
It's a naturally green apple almost entirely covered with a blush of very fine streaks, orange-red. Look closely to see many regular tan lenticel dots. It is firm and fragrant.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Chenango Strawberry
I had my first Chenango Strawberry two years ago, picked two weeks later than this one (which dates from mid September).
At the time wondered if my apple was a little too long off the tree, and wished for a second chance.
Well I got my wish, and I think this is a slightly better version. What I learned, however, is that I pretty much nailed it the first time.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Even the pips are red
I guess it is the Year of the Red Fleshed Harvest here at Adam's Apples. Behold the red-tinged pips of the Redfield apple.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Redfield
This small, classically shaped apple has a deep red blush decorated with a rugged archipelago of russet and distinctive light lenticel dots. The peel has a satiny gloss.
My Redfield is moderately ribbed and has an open, and deep, calyx. It smells faintly of cinnamon, perhaps residue of actual cinnamon from baked goods in the farm shop where I bought the apple.