To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Best keeping apples?
Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 10:45:35 -0700
Sam mentions Hambledon Deux Ans as keeping up to 2 years. Interesting!
"Its name (Hambledon Two Years) derives from the supposition that it may
be preserved with care for a couple of years. A large noble apple. It is
richly flavored, but rather deficient in juice. Self-fertile." Here is
some more info I found at the Keepers Nursery website:
Hambledon Deux Ans
Arose in about 1750 in Hambledon, Hampshire. Popular in 19th Century
when it was said that every Hampshire garden had a 'Deusans' tree .
Commercially grown in Kent. May still be found in old gardens in
Hampshire and Sussex.
A large apple. Round-conical to conical shape, a few fruits almost
oblong. Often irregular and sometimes lopsided. Some fruit fairly
distinctly ribbed. Dull deep green background skin colour becoming
golden yellow. May be up to three-quarters flushed brownish red,
brightening to orange red on ripening. Some broad, broken, stripes.
Creamy white flesh, tinged yellow. Firm and rather dry. Primarily a
culinary apple, keeps its shape when cooked or makes a stiff puree.
Sweet, quite rich taste when used early.
A very vigorous spreading tree. Good cropper. Prone to bitter pit. Very
long-lived.
Use Culinary
Colour Flushed
Flavour Rich
Fruit size Large
Picking time Early/Mid Oct
Season of use Oct-Mar
Tree vigour Vigorous
Tree habit Spreading
Fruit bearing Spur-bearer
Cropping Good
Special features Attractive Blossom