I love trees. All sorts of trees. Its a love that came to me later in life but, as in most passions, the more I learned about them, the more I wanted to know. I suspect those that read this blog may have gathered that about me from some of the posts (e.g. apple tree grafting). But the truth is oh so much worse. In our little plot we are cultivating around 50 species of trees. From the relatively mundane Blackthorn to the extremely rare True Service.
Two trees I have always wanted to grow are black mulberry and medlar. Most people have at least heard of a mulberry from the nursery rhyme if nothing else, but the term medlar most often evokes a blank stare. Blokes can be made to want one simply by letting them know that its old nickname was the dogs bum tree. However delicate ladies have to be won over by telling them that the fruit is only palatable when decomposing. You really want one now dont you?
Anyway I was discussing this one day with my Mum (who has been an amazing source of inspiration and support to us in getting this place up and running we could never have done it without her).
So what did she do? Yup bought us one of each! This is the lovely, healthy half standard medlar Nottingham that we received in March 2014 (pot grown so fine to plant out). I wanted the Nottingham variety as it is reputed to have the best flavour.
We planted it in a deep, well fertilised hole and replaced the wood chip mulch that does so much to retain moisture and suppress weeds
and by April it was leafing up
The gold finches certainly approve
I think its a very attractive tree. Its leaves bring to mind the shape of horse chestnut leaves and the flower buds are almost like a roses (this taken in April)
By May the flowers open and still, to me, bring dog rose to mind
Last year we removed all the fruit to allow the tree to put its energy into rooting and establishing itself. This year we allowed a number of fruit to develop. Perhaps the origin of the nickname is apparent from this picture?
Fruits should be picked late October to early November. They are hard and unpalatable at this stage.
The fruit need to be set aside somewhere cool for a couple of weeks to blet. Great word blet it means to ripen to softness.
(We must keep words like this in use we have a wonderful rich language. I sned but never with a snath)
After two weeks the fruit are soft to the touch a squeeze and the ripened pulp oozes out. The look may be unappealing, but the taste is spicy and delicious. The nearest I can get is stewed apple with cloves.
The fruit contains four or five hard seeds. I am keeping a few to grow some more medlar trees. I will have to graft them on to a Quince A rootstock but thats no great chore.
Hopefully in a few weeks the quince my lovely wife has bought will turn up and complete our collection of old fruits.
Two trees I have always wanted to grow are black mulberry and medlar. Most people have at least heard of a mulberry from the nursery rhyme if nothing else, but the term medlar most often evokes a blank stare. Blokes can be made to want one simply by letting them know that its old nickname was the dogs bum tree. However delicate ladies have to be won over by telling them that the fruit is only palatable when decomposing. You really want one now dont you?
Anyway I was discussing this one day with my Mum (who has been an amazing source of inspiration and support to us in getting this place up and running we could never have done it without her).
So what did she do? Yup bought us one of each! This is the lovely, healthy half standard medlar Nottingham that we received in March 2014 (pot grown so fine to plant out). I wanted the Nottingham variety as it is reputed to have the best flavour.
We planted it in a deep, well fertilised hole and replaced the wood chip mulch that does so much to retain moisture and suppress weeds
and by April it was leafing up
The gold finches certainly approve
I think its a very attractive tree. Its leaves bring to mind the shape of horse chestnut leaves and the flower buds are almost like a roses (this taken in April)
By May the flowers open and still, to me, bring dog rose to mind
Last year we removed all the fruit to allow the tree to put its energy into rooting and establishing itself. This year we allowed a number of fruit to develop. Perhaps the origin of the nickname is apparent from this picture?
Fruits should be picked late October to early November. They are hard and unpalatable at this stage.
The fruit need to be set aside somewhere cool for a couple of weeks to blet. Great word blet it means to ripen to softness.
(We must keep words like this in use we have a wonderful rich language. I sned but never with a snath)
After two weeks the fruit are soft to the touch a squeeze and the ripened pulp oozes out. The look may be unappealing, but the taste is spicy and delicious. The nearest I can get is stewed apple with cloves.
The fruit contains four or five hard seeds. I am keeping a few to grow some more medlar trees. I will have to graft them on to a Quince A rootstock but thats no great chore.
Hopefully in a few weeks the quince my lovely wife has bought will turn up and complete our collection of old fruits.
