do you grow for cidar? I have a couple that seem to be popular with cidarheads, Ashmead's Kernel and Chestnut. looking to add a Pitmaston Pineapple which is from the Isles somewhere
- Not any more. Where we used to live, down south in Hampshire, I had Kingston Black, Tom Putt, Brown Snout, Dabinett, White Norman and Foxwhelp on some land belonging to a friend, but he sold up and I lost access. I then went to work on a local farm with an orchard where we had cider pressing days (and also apple-tree wassailing on Twelfth Night), but the orchard there was mainly dessert apples which, in my opinion, don't make for good cider (I mean, the alcoholic product we have in England). When we moved up to the mid-Wales borders six years ago (the northernmost limit of cider country), I had to sell the cider press, as moving it that distance along with all our other stuff, would have been problematic.
Now, we live within 10 miles of a couple or three excellent cider farms and I work on another which also makes its own cider from its orchards (rough, but good). The apple trees around the house and some other land I bought last year just happen to have apple trees on as well - Owen Thomas and Stark's Earliest in our garden, and Warner's King and Discovery on the other plot. - and all apart from the Warner's are dessert apples. They would need some bittersharps to balance out the sweetness. Maybe I could cut a deal with the farm I work at, next year... it's a thought...
Ashmead's Kernel I know well. Chestnut, which is basically a crab, would balance out the Ashmead's with some sharpness - but Pitmaston Pineapple is a new one on me. I just looked it up, and I see it came from Worcestershire - a neighbouring county - in the 18th century. We live and learn. All power to you for fostering what is now quite a rare variety.
If you ever consider growing for the real cider market (if there is one where you are), I seriously recommend planting some Kingston Black and Foxwhelp - and Dabinett, too - they make excellent ciders on their own and will vastly improve any dessert apple-based brew.