The Northern Pomona
Apples for Cool Climates
A new book, to be published on 15th October 2007.
Inspirations for this book were legion, but among them was the burgeoning collection of heritage varieties at Helmsley Walled Garden, amassed and cared for by the Northern Fruit Group. Along with this was the quest to discover their individual characters, virtues and uses, how best to grow them, store them, but most importantly, how best to use them. Contributors include expert pomologists, horticulturists, cooks and chefs from across northern Britain who have given freely their knowledge, experience and passionate enthusiasm for the fruit of fruits, the apple.
- Seasoned with quotations, poetry, epigrams and folklore, and beautifully illustrated with fifty exquisite botanical portraits painted by Bridget Gillespie.
- Full descriptions of over one hundred apple varieties, traditional, ancient and relatively modern. All are performers of merit in northern climates, though by no means all are northern in origin.
- Over two hundred thoroughly researched, tried and tested recipes spanning two thousand years, from apple growing cultures around the world. They range from starters and soups, through main courses, desserts and beverages. Detailed cross-referencing permits the best choice of apples for every recipe.
- A short history of British orchards and expert guidance on the conservation, restoration and recording of old and neglected orchards.
- Expert advice on planting, cultivation, pruning and fruit storage.
- Extensive lists of useful websites, suppliers of trees, fruit and juices, orchards to visit.
- Printed on archival paper, hard-cover, cloth-bound with embossed gold leaf lettering on front and spine; 250 x 210mm, 320pp.
A book for the apple enthusiast, and all lovers of art, history and good food.
Example page - Ribston Pippin
Synonyms: Crawley Reinette, Pepin Ribston, Englische Granat Reinette, Glory of York, and many more
Well known throughout the country as one of the highest excellence and perhaps not to be surpassed.
Lindley
The joy of growing a fruit from a pip and having it turn out to be one the finest hardy apples would be immeasurable. In 1688, when Sir Henry Goodricke brought pips to Ribston Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, from Rouen, France, from an apple he had enjoyed there, he may have hoped for, but cannot have imagined such success. Ribston Pippin has been popular for three hundred years, though commercially a slow starter; it was listed by Pontefract nurseryman,William Perfect, in 1769, and, by 1775, was being sold by the famous Brompton Park nursery. Introduced to Northern Europe in the early 1800s, it travelled to Nova Scotia, America, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand; by the latter part of the 19th century, it was widely grown in the orchards of Kent. It is still a valued garden apple, and as a parent of Cox's Orange Pippin, has spawned many successful offspring. The Northern Fruit Group at Helmsley Walled Garden grows an "applegram" with the Ribston at its heart, as a living, diagrammatic representation of some of its noted descendants.
The original tree blew over in 1815, lingered till 1835, but a shoot that grew from it lived until 1932. Esteemed pomologist Hilary Wilson says: It is an intensely aromatic apple and, apart from being a Victorian favourite, is my all-time favourite. It was the first apple I grafted and I got the wood from a tree in the village of Osbaldwick near York. The owner told me her grandfather went to Ribston Hall especially to get the wood from the original tree.
It is still grown throughout Britain. Nicols says: (it is) . a universal apple for these kingdoms; it will thrive at John O'Groats, while it deserves a place at Exeter or at Cork. It is offered by nurseries in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, USA, and by the Siloam Orchards in Canada. In continental climates it ripens much earlier than in Britain, in late August or early September. Dr Hogg declares: It is at its greatest perfection during November and December, but with good management will keep till March. Those who have eaten it sun warmed, straight from the tree, will agree with Bunyard's enlightened friend: An incontinent friend eats his Ribstons direct from the tree, and has at least convinced me that we do, in fact, place too late a season for this admirable fruit. It should be tasted frequently after gathering and will generally be found to be best used before Cox's come in in November.
The texture is crisp, the skin firm, the flesh bursting with sweet-sharp juice; the flavour is intense, thought by some to have a suggestion of pear drops. Ribston Pippin is has a high vitamin C content (31mg/100g), about 4-5 times average, and yields a medium-sharp juice. Recorded as one of Ruskin's favourites, it is scarcely surpassed as an apple with cheese; one can imagine he enjoyed it with an artisan cheese, such as Wensleydale. While classified as a dessert apple, great cooks consider it to be the apple of choice for apple pies (see p.160).
Description:
Tree: upright, moderately vigorous, precocious, good but irregular cropper, with fat downy fruit buds and ornamental blossom. Fruit: medium-large; round- to oblong-conical, irregular; skin: yellow-green, striped red, flushed orange-brown, some russeting; flesh: pale yellow-cream, firm, juicy, intensely aromatic; basin: irregular, moderately deep, russetted: eye: large, half open to open; cavity: round, narrow, russetted around; stalk: short, slender, inserted to full length. Type: Late dessert; Flowering date: 8; Pollination group: C (early to midseason); Triploid; Pick: September-October; Store: October to December, but best eaten before November. Resistant to scab, cedar rust; slightly susceptible to mildew; susceptible to canker, especially in wet conditions, and fireblight.
To find out more about this book
Visit the Northern Pomona website to find out more about the book and to order your copy.
