Apparently February 1st to 8th is National Bramley Week! It is 200 years since an apple pip was planted in a garden in Nottinghamshire. In 1837 it is reported that a Mr Bramley took a cutting and grew it on to maturity. In 1900 this tree fell over but started to sprout branches again (this is known as a phoenix tree) and to this day the original tree still stands. You can still buy authentic cuttings from this original tree.Who thinks up these marketing events? I suppose it was a bumper year last year for Bramleys so there are a great number in cold storage somewhere and the supermarkets want to get rid of them (how cynical am I?). Here is a picture of some of mine which are in storage. Can you see which one I am about to pick out and throw? They still have to be checked every couple of weeks. A Brillaint company Ken Muir sells these apple trees from cuttings taken from the original tree.
Is it, by jove!!
ReplyDeleteI've just put a Bramley and mince meat crumble in the oven – I'll toast Mr Bramley when we eat it :-)
Celia
x
How about a scrummy apple pie to celebrate! ;)
ReplyDeleteNeat to know the history of your tree. I just found out about your blog today from Paula at Petunia's Garden, I met her in person along with some other Seattle-area garden bloggers. I look forward to reading further!
ReplyDeleteMy stored apples were a complete bust this year. I think they may have been hit by frost before I picked them, that must not have helped my situation.
ReplyDeleteThat original Bramley Apple tree must be quite a sight. I will have to look to see if they grow them around here.
PS, I replied to your e-mail.
Hmmmm....we had an apple discussion today (& someone still eating local fall apples from their stash). Seattle gardeners want to know what you are doing Mar. 22... e-mail me!
ReplyDeleteThe modern marketing strategies are all very fascinating. We do not have such branded marketing for fruits here in India. But taking a cue from Mr. Bramley - and his successors - I'll shortly start one:-)
ReplyDeleteDont throw your apple Matron! Chop it up for the birds, they need al the help they can get at the mo! Interesting article, as always, Take care Tatty
ReplyDeleteI don't have a tree - but The Old Bloke next door does - and welcomes us using his windfalls. Without knowing it is National Bramley Week I took some frozen cooked apple from the freezer yesterday for tonight's Apple Crumble. Nice to be IN step for a change!
ReplyDeleteSeems like a marketing ploy to me too.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, are they not lovely !
Thanks for your kind wishes on the news of our recent wedding.
Keep up the good work on the blog, always love to read it and catch up.
TTFN
Just popping in after a visit with Paula at Petunia's Garden. It will be lovely if you can visit our new Seattle area garden bloggers group. On apples, we have one tree that went crazy last year. I chopped up oodles of apples and froze them for crisps. All new to me of course. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteYour apples look to be keeping well, I think I will be dumping whats left of mine at work soon as they're going soft and no one wants to bother with them anymore. Bob
ReplyDeletehey, this is my first visit, my hubby has been before and said i'd like it and... i do!! You also have some of my fav blogs on your list.
ReplyDeleteHoorah for bramley's - i'd die without apple tart!!!!
oh my word verification is cool - ollemeni
Our neighbour on the allotment has a Bramley - she's very generous with them too (thanks again, Sarah, if you're reading this!) but we have two horrible generic 'pappy' apple trees in our garden that taste of nothing and won't store. I wish I could get rid of them and have a 'real' apple tree instead.
ReplyDeleteCan I make a suggestion about your cold storage of apples. tell me to shut up if you like some people do. Go to a supermarket and get a few of the pressed paper trays that they use in their apple boxes. Cut the tray to fit your blue plastic storage boxes and then when you place your apples in for storage they will not be touching each other. It is the touching that spreads the rot from one apple to another. Even if one rots it will not affect the others so no need for constant attention. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about the history of the Bramley. I had never heard of the expression 'phoenix tree' before. The original Bramley tree must be a most impressive sight. I wonder whether it still crops well.
ReplyDeleteRon, that's a great idea thank you. I might look out for some of those compressed cardboard trays for next year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story of the original Bramley tree. Never heard of a phoenix tree before.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there are no Bramley apples for sale in the shops here.
Excellent new marketing ploy: export Bramleys to the Netherlands. ;-)