Darren T – Orchard Notes

Poetry: ‘Apple Blossoms’, by Susan Kelly-DeWitt

Susan’s rather lovely poem perfectly captures the orchardist’s winter frustration and the anticipation of spring.

Anyone for a 14th century recipe for what sounds distinctly like a fried, fruit-filled doughnut?

Fried fruity things, with apples, figs, dates, currants and spices? What’s not to like?

Two nights of bad weather after early blossom has bloomed is bad news, but hopefully not the end of this year’s crop.

When winter came in 19th century America, it was out with the thin linen cloths to protect the fruit still on the trees.

16th and 17th century jam-making recipe, anyone? No jars back then though, so you’ll have to store it in boxes…

This anonymously-authored 16th century apple dessert recipe could be a good one for anyone with a butter surplus to shift.

Anyone for an apple Bavarian cream? Time to dust off your old bunny mould and whip up a boozy Victorian dessert in time for Easter.

It’s every orchardist’s worse-case scenario: a sharp frost forecast just as the blossom is starting to open…

As this 1915 ad shows, when it comes to useful orchard equipment, some ideas and designs never go out of date.