Weeding the Web

Bramley apples: a very British taste

While the commercial world is pushing love and gearing up to pink—hearts, ribbons, cards for St Valentine’s Day—others are pushing something completely different. This week is, in the ways of marketing, Bramley Apple Week.

Now, Bramleys are a British staple with a noble history. But according the website of the Bramley Apple Information Service (of course there’s one) they are exclusive to Britain. How weird. Surely a few people in the States grow them?

Presents for Gardeners: Penkridge’s perfect produce

It might seem a bit cruel, giving a gardener a gorgeous replica of an apple. Sort of rubs it in – hey, have you managed anything as good as this? But on the other hand, of anyone, gardeners really appreciate the beauty in small things, such as the perfect peapod, or smallest berry.

More than twenty years’ experience in ceramics have made Lorraine Taylor and Nicky Smart, of Penkridge Ceramics, experts in reproducing fruit and vegetables, which they cast from moulds of the originals, then glaze. They have a range of over hundred different fruits and vegetables, from globe artichokes and garlic to tomatoes, plums and quinces.

Experience has taught them an intimate knowledge of their models. “Straight off the tree, colours are light and fresh, but as the fruit lies around the studio—assuming it’s not eaten—it ripens more and colours deepen and mature. We’re now experts on the aging of fruit!”

With each new growing season, they add new varieties and shapes to the range. “We make several versions of different fruit and veg so that they look natural piled up together,” says Lorraine. “We used to choose perfect specimens, but now we go for pieces with knobbly, interesting bits. In fact, we like to use home-grown produce. It has more character.”

I’ve seen their work and it’s truly lifelike and very difficult to spot the difference between these and the real thing.

For future reference, they’re also happy to copy a prize-winning vegetable for you, so Dad can show everyone just how big his pumpkin really was.

Now, there’s an idea for a pressie.

Bare root fruit trees from Blackmoor Nurseries

If you’re thinking of putting in a fruit tree, now’s the time to be doing something about it. Blackmoor Nurseries in Hampshire have an excellent, easy-to-navigate website offering about seventy varieties of apple, as well as stone fruit, cob trees and soft fruit.

The apple section is particularly helpful, with each variety listed with its pollination group, history and notes on taste.

Although not organic, Blackmoor say they use natural predators and keep spraying to a minimum. There’s lots of information and plenty of photos of cultivars, with detailed advice on planting and caring for your purchases.

I bought a Bramley from them a couple of years ago. They were very patient with my questions and the tree arrived promptly, looking very healthy. I’m glad to say that it’s still healthy despite suffering flooded roots in some very heavy rain last year, and this year was allowed its first harvest of three big apples.

You can’t beat Bramleys in a crumble.