OurAppleOrchards - Brighton Permaculture Trust · for Brighton Permaculture Trust and Action in rural Sussex. ... different from all the rest. Duck’s Bill Hawkridge Alfriston In

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Our Apple Orchards

Our

Apple Orchards

By Anne-Marie Bur with photographs by Anne Purkiss and others

for Brighton Permaculture Trust and Action in rural Sussex

ForewordI still remember the day when I was six years old and I saw lots of appleslying on the ground in my grandparents’garden. I thought someone had droppedthem until my grandfather explained thatthey were underneath his apple tree andthat is where the fruit came from. Thefollowing spring he also showed meapple blossom and explained that thefruit grew from inside the flower. It wasmagical, just like this book.

Maybe it will inspire you to plant yourown apple tree and you could evenchoose one of the rare and deliciousSussex apple varieties. That way you willhelp to make sure that we can enjoy allkinds of apples long into the future.

Amanda GrantCookery writer www.amandagrant.com2

What is an orchard?

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An orchard is a place where fruit trees grow. In an orchard youmight find a variety of fruits including pears, plums or cherries.But the fruits you are most likely to find are… APPLES!

Most orchards have more than one kind of apple tree…

Wadhurst Pippin4

How many kinds of apple are there?

There are over six thousandkinds of apple in the world andnearly thirty of them comefrom Sussex. Each one isdifferent from all the rest.

Duck’s Bill

Hawkridge

Alfriston

In the supermarket you mightfind several different kinds ofapples. Go to a fruit farm andyou will find a lot more.

Some of the differences between apple varieties are: � size,

� shape,

� colour of the skin,

� colour of the inside flesh,

� smell, and of course,

� taste

Some ripen as early as July,some not until the end ofOctober. And each of theseapples has been given a name.

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Golden Pippin

Saltcote PippinKnobby Russet

Tinsley Quince

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Where was each Sussex Applefirst grown?

S O U T H D

CHICHESTER BOGNORREGIS

BRIGHTON& HOVE

LITTLEHAMPTON

WORTHING

PETWORTH

HORSHAM

PULBOROUGH

WESTERNWEALD

HA

MP

SH

IR

E HAYWARDSHEATHBILLINGSHURST

CRAWLEY

ARUNDEL

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O W N SEASTBOURNE

LEWES

NEWHAVEN

ASHDOWN FOREST KE

NT

S U R R E Y

HAILSHAM

POLEGATE

HASTINGSBEXHILL

RYE

BATTLE

HEATHFIELDUCKFIELD

MAYFIELD

CROWBOROUGH

EASTGRINSTEAD

WADHURST

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How to plant an apple tree

Fruit trees are first lookedafter in a tree nursery. In the winter the leavesfall off and growth stops.The young trees are‘dormant’. When thishappens they can easilybe dug up and moved tothe orchard site.

2 Attach the tree to stakes

A large hole is dug in the soiland two stakes are driven intothe ground to support the tree.The tree is placed in the holeand loosely attached to thestakes with tree ties.

Until they can grow lots ofnew roots, young fruit treesneed support to prevent themfrom being blown over.

1 Keep the roots moist

It is best if the roots of thetree are soaked in a bucket ofwater for two hours beforeplanting, making sure they are all covered.

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5 Put down mulch

A layer of mulch is added. This helps to keep the moisturein the soil, and to preventweeds growing around the tree.It could be a piece of textile orsomething such as a layer ofbark chippings.

This means the tree can takebest advantage of everythingthat is in the soil to grow well. It doesn’t have to competewith other plants trying togrow in the same soil. Then…

4 Press down the soil

By pressing down the soilgently you make sure the rootsare in contact with the soil –you get rid of air pockets.

Now you can tighten the tree ties.

3 Fill in the hole with mix of compost and soil

The soil goes back around theroots. It is a good idea to addcompost to the soil. This addsnutrients (food) and improvesthe texture of heavy clay orchalky soils making a morewelcoming environment forthe young roots.

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6 Attach netting

Do you have rabbits livingnearby? If so you mustsurround your trees withnetting to stop themgnawing at the bark.

Rabbits love eating the bark of young fruit trees in winter!

From a distance yournewly planted apple treemay just look like a thinstick. But take a closerlook and you will seesigns of life – the ‘stick’has buds and in just a fewshort weeks they willtransform the appearanceof the apple tree.

7 Tie on a metal label

The label tells us not justthat it is an apple tree butwhat kind of apple tree –you can include the date itwas planted, and perhapswho planted it.

If the label is made of metalit will still be there when youare grown up!

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It can be hard work to plant anapple tree properly, but it is worthgiving your apple tree the best startso it will grow the best apples!

As the weather warms up andthe days grow longer the treebegins to wake up. The budsburst open and turn into leavesor flowers, called blossom.Apple blossom smellswonderful.

Apple blossom comes in arange of shades from pale pinkto creamy white.

As soon as the blossomappears, pollination can occur,essential for the apples to startgrowing – can you see them?

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Spring: from buds to blossom…

For pollination to happen,tiny grains of pollen from astamen need to land on thestigma of another blossom.Trees can’t move so they relyon flying insects, especiallybees, for this to happen.

As the bees fly from flower to flower collecting nectar (to make honey) they oftenbrush against the pollen,which sticks to the bee and a few tiny grains are thentransported to the nextflower the bee lands on.

A grain of pollen may fall offonto a stigma. Cells in thepollen travel down the tubesof the stigma and the floweris fertilised and an apple willbegin to grow.

Like all growing plants, young13

Pollination

This part becomes the apple

Stigma

Stamen

Pollen grains

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There are some very commonpests that can really slow downthe growth of young trees andeven make their branches grow in odd shapes. Be observant and protect your orchard frominvaders!

Some moths lay their eggs onthe trees and they becomecaterpillars which eat the leaves.If you see them, pick them off.Can you see the caterpillar onthis branch?

Apple trees under attack!

Aphids are a common pest.Look under any curled upleaves in spring and you will often see a mass of tiny creatures.

Encourage ladybirds – theylove eating aphids.

Fruit trees need water and food (nutrients). To help them togrow healthily it is a good idea to give them special care in thefirst few years – watering them occasionally in hot weather,and perhaps spraying the leaves with a foliar feed that is madefrom seaweed and iron.

Apple trees eat and drink

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Summer

In summer, orchards providebeautiful shady places to picnicand play. At the centre of some ofthe flowers, small apples begin todevelop. Every day they get a littlerounder. But don’t try eating themyet because they will be hard, dryand bitter. It takes a wholesummer to make an apple sweetand juicy so be patient a while yet.

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The fruit ripens. When an apple isready to pick it will come away easilyfrom the tree if you cup it in yourhand and give it a twist.

If the apples aren’t picked theyeventually drop off the trees on to theground. This happens a lot in windyweather and these apples are calledwindfalls. Windfall apples providefood for lots of orchard visitors.

AutumnFe

mal

e bl

ackb

ird

© P

aul B

rock

Some apples, such as Hawkridge are ripeby late summer but for others we have towait until well into the autumn. Someapples need to be eaten quickly but otherscan be stored over the whole winter if keptsomewhere cold and dry and dark. Thetaste of some apples changes over time.Egremont Russets, for instance, tend totaste sweeter and nuttier if kept.

Apples can be pressed to extract the juice.The flavour of the apple juiceproduced varies depending on thecombination of apples you press. If you include lots of cooking apples,such as the Alfriston, you will have a sharper tasting juice. If you onlyuse dessert apples your juice willbe sweeter.

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Reaping the harvest

Some apples will keep all winter if stored in arack like this in a shed or other cool place.

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Some schools andcommunity groups have a traditional apple presslike this. There’s nothingquite like the taste offresh apple juice!

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A very simple apple recipe…

Peel some apples, remove thecores, add a little sugar and a few cloves (optional).

Cook till the apples are soft. Some go mushy, some retain theirshape – all taste good!

If you want to be a bit moreadventurous there are lots ofpuddings and cakes you can make.You can also use apples in spicychutneys and warming soups.

Cooking with applesSome apples are called cooking apples

because they have a very sharp tasteif eaten raw, but have a wonderfulflavour when used in puddings and cakes.

In fact you can cook all kinds ofapples. Dessert apples (another

name for eating apples) are particularlygood in apple tarts, for instance.

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Spiced squash and apple soupMakes about 2 litres:

Ingredients1kg squash of your choice e.g. Butternut or Crown Prince(peeled, de-seeded and chopped)2 medium apples (peeled, cored and chopped)2 onions (chopped)2 cloves garlic (chopped)1 litre reduced salt vegetable stock1 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp mild curry powderSalt and pepper

Method1 Heat the oil in a large pot and fry the onions

until they start to brown.2 Add the chopped apples and squash to the pot

and cook for a further five minutes.3 Add the garlic and curry powder and cook for

a minute more.4 Add the stock and bring to the boil.5 Reduce heat to a fast simmer and cook for 15 minutes.6 Blend the soup if you prefer a smooth consistency and

season with salt and pepper.

Chef’s Tip:Serve this soup with toasted sesame or pumpkin seeds and a swirl of cream or yoghurt.

Apple, tomato and onion chutney

This is a fresh chutney which needs to be eaten within

three days. For chutney which can be preserved,

add 100g of sugar to the vegetables, cook gently for

30 minutes longer than described, then spoon while still

hot into hot sterilized jars and cover immediately to

create a hermetic seal.

Ingredients2 tbsp olive oil

2 large red onions (finely sliced)

500g apples (peeled, cored and chopped)

500g ripe tomatoes (chopped)

6 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

1 mild red chilli (chopped) or ½ tsp dried chilli powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Method1 Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan and gently

fry the onions until browned.

2 Add the apples and tomatoes and sauté for

2–3 minutes.

3 Add the chilli and garlic and cook for a further minute.

4 Add 1 cup of water, apple juice or stock, and bring

to the boil.

5 Reduce the heat to a low simmer, cook for 15 minutes

or until the chutney has reduced down considerably,

stirring occasionally.

6 Add salt and pepper to taste and gently stir together.

In winter, apple trees lose all their leavesand the branches are bare. Each year, appletrees need to have a period when it is verycold. This is why you don’t find apple treesin tropical climates.

In some places people visit orchards in thedepths of winter and perform rituals to tryand ensure a good apple harvest thefollowing year. This is called wassailing.

In this photograph, people are singing aspecial wassailing song. Can you find thewassail cake that they have put in the treefor good luck?

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Winter

For your trees to have lots of healthyapples, you need to make sure that air cancirculate freely around the branches, andthat sunlight can reach through to help thefruit ripen.

Sometimes it is necessary to cut out twigsand branches if they are growing too closeto each other. To do this, you need a pair ofsharp secateurs.

This is called pruning.

25Pruning photographs © Caroline Arber

Orchards are home to a range ofwildlife. Insects feed on the nectarin the apple blossom and the wildflowers that grow in the grassbeneath the trees. Birds feed onthe insects and some nest in thetree branches. Older trees providehomes too for rare beetles, fungiand mistletoe. And lots of animalsenjoy eating windfalls – mammals,birds and insects.

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Wildlife in orchards

Noble Chafer © Paul BrockMistletoe © People’s Trust for Endangered Species

Pearl-bordered Fritillary © Paul Brock

Hedgehogs © Derek Middleton, Sussex Wildlife Trust

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Wasp © Alan Price, Sussex Wildlife Trust

Bank Vole © J. Webley Blackbird © Darin Smith, Sussex Wildlife Trust Meadow Cranesbill

Fieldfare © Derek Middleton, Sussex Wildlife Trust

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Apples in art and designArtists and designers have made use of apples in lots ofdifferent ways.

Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach,1526In the story of Adam and Eve,the snake tempted Eve totake an apple from the tree.

Watercolour of apple by J Le Moyne de Morgues, 1575Botanical artists make verydetailed, accurate paintings.This is quite an early example.

A four-year old girl holding an apple, by Isaac Oliver, 1590Perhaps the apple in the girl’s hand was a reward forstaying still?

Cushion Cover, 1600An apple tree is shown in thecentre of this embroidery.

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September Plate, made in Delft,Holland, 1750Delft is famous for its blue andwhite pottery. September is appleharvest time; the apples are beingshaken out of the tree.

Bowl made in Iran, 19th centuryAn original design showingcherry-picking was adapted toillustrate apples or pomegranates.

Pomona – a tapestry design byEdward Burne-Jones, 1900Pomona was the Romangoddess of fruit trees andorchards.

Dress fabric, United States of America, 1930This design was printed on silk.

Images: Adam and Eve Courtesy of theCourtauld Institute, all others courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum

If you eat apples that are grown far away, alot of fuel is needed to transport them to theshops where they are sold. This means thatcarbon dioxide (CO2) is released into theatmosphere, which contributes to climatechange. So eating apples that have beengrown near to where you live is better for our environment. Fruit trees also need lessfertilizer than field crops and unlike mostcrops there is no need to plough the landeach year.

Maybe you can plant some apple trees atyour school, or in a park or other open space?If you plant some apples which ripen earlyand others that keep through the winter youcan have local apples nearly all year round.You can add other orchard fruits too – pears,plums, cherries, quinces, or mulberries forinstance.

Find out about fruit growers near you. Some have farm shops and some allow youto pick fruit straight from the tree.

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Eat local apples

Apple DayYou can celebrate the apple harvest in lotsof ways – eating, cooking or juicing applesfor instance. Many organisations andschools hold some kind of Apple Day event.

At Stanmer Park near Brighton, an Apple Dayis held towards the end of September. You can visit a beautiful old orchard, see all theSussex apples, make juice on a traditionalpress, play apple games and eat apple cakes!

There are sometimes apple songs and appledances too…

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About this bookOur Apple Orchards was produced by Action in rural Sussex and BrightonPermaculture Trust to encourage children to grow, eat and enjoy local fruit. In recentyears we have worked with over onethousand children. Together we have plantedorchards, often with rare Sussex applevarieties, cooked and juiced apples in schools,housing estates, parks and village recreationgrounds across Sussex.

For more information on apples and orchards,courses and events, apple varieties and adviceon fruit growing, markets and outlets forlocal fruit, visit:www.brightonpermaculture.org.ukwww.orangepippin.comwww.orchardnetwork.org.ukwww.commonground.org.ukwww.ruralsussex.org

For insights into our local Sussex orchardhistory and possible future, look out for:Sussex Apples and Orchards by Brian Short et al (publication 2012).

AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank Robin van Creveld for therecipes www.communitychef.org.uk, CarolineZoob for her embroidery of apple pickers, SussexWildlife Trust, the People’s Trust for EndangeredSpecies, Paul Brock, and John Webley for thewildlife images, Caroline Arber for the pruningphotos, the Victoria and Albert Museum for theapples in art, and all the children and youngpeople who appear on these pages and all themany more we have worked and played with andhave inspired us to make this book.

Designed by Wordsmith Design

Printed on Revive 100% recycled paper

This book is a great introductionto apples and orchards. It willmake you want to plant appletrees, eat apples, cook apples,make apple juice and maybe evenmake apple monsters or an appleembroidery...

It features:� apple trees through the seasons� Sussex apple varieties� orchard wildlife� apple recipes� apples in art and design