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Dark red streaks mostly cover this attractive yellow apple, which is medium sized and oblate with no perceptible ribbing.
A corona of green-brown russet radiates from the stemwell, and russet-colored dots are large on one side and small in the more-blushed side.
Lord L has a sweet aroma.
My sweet Lord
I'm disappointed because of this apple's reputation. Orange Pippin mentions its "aromatic flavor."
Whenever my experience falls so far from expectations I wonder if I did something wrong or have the wrong apple.
But Karim Habibi, who grew this apple in his nursery (and watched me pick it), writes that I've got the right one and the LLs were just "lacking in flavour this year."
Hazard de dégustation. But it means I've not got a peak sample.
Debrett's
It is a "partial tip bearer," and you can see that this one is hanging right off the end of the branch.
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Hi Adam,
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoy your blog. Please keep up the good work!
Regarding Lord Lambourne, we have grown it in our orchard for about 10 years and have found that attempting to store it for more than a month greatly contributes to the deterioration of both flavor and texture. I’m not sure when your sample was picked, but that might be something to consider. In Iowa, it ripens the 3rd or 4th week in September, although lately there’s quite a variation there. Eaten in season, it is a very fine apple with acidity and sweetness well balanced and a complex, pleasing flavor. In my opinion, a better eating apple than either parent.
I would like to add my 2 cents to a couple of other issues you have raised. It is true, as your orchardist mentioned, that some years multiple cultivars are just lacking flavor. We have noticed a lot of that this year, a much drier and rather hotter year than usual here. And then there will be a few that have excellent flavor, growing right next to the more insipid ones. Go figure! Also I believe it is true that some cultivars develop better fruit quality as the tree ages. The case of Mother comes to mind. We planted our first Mother more than 20 years ago and for the first 3 or 4 years the fruit was so unspectacular that I just basically ignored it. Then after several years there was a nice crop and I thought I’d better try it again. Much to my surprise, the flavor had improved considerably and I could finally recognize the fruit other orchardists had described so glowingly. My take: patience is indeed a virtue and in an orchard, a necessary one.
A happy holiday to you!
Jerry, thank you for your good wishes and reflections on orchard life! I picked this one myself, though not until mid October.
DeleteThe climate in SE England is quite mild, for all that London is as far north as Winnipeg. In mid October there was no color on the trees in Kent, and Karim's business there involves digging up saplings (from the unfrozen ground) in midwinter.
All the best to you and yours.