Kitchen Garden Forum

No, it's not a typo !
My in-laws have had a bramley apple tree for over 30 years and this year the apples have red skins.
None of us have ever heard anything that could explain this. Do any of you have any ideas ?
Thanks, in advance.

Hi Wet Ham Ron,
It is not unusual as the Bramleys you see in the shops are picked green and never get the best of the sunshine.
I have got a tree of Bramleys a full standard that needs a double ladder to pick them and you still cannot reach them all and this year you would think they were Cox's Orange Pippins. They, because of the amount of sunshine, are very sweet and do not need much sugar for cooking.
JB.

Hello WestHamRon
I have a large Bramley and every year the higher fruit on the sunnier side of the tree takes on a reddish tinge. As JB says they need very little sugar when they're cooked. We cook without sugar then taste to see if any is needed.
If you store Bramleys for some time, their skin take on a yellowish colour and they sweeten up naturally, eventually they make quite acceptable eaters.

John

Hi West Ham Ron
There is a 'Crimson' variety of the Bramley Apple tree. When I was young, in the 1950's, we had lots of different varieties of apple trees in our garden, including a Crimson Bramley (as well as ordinary Bramleys) and the fruit from this was always sweeter, even when freshly picked, than the ordinary Bramleys. It was an excellent keeper.
Jea

So what the replies are saying is sunburn.

Hi Peter,
What is indicated is that "Ripe Bramleys" due to crap summers are a rarity.
Jea, The tree to which I refer is enormous and by the size, I guess, that it may well have been one of the new trees produce by Mr Bramley all those years ago.
JB.

There is a picture of the fruit of Crimson Bramley at web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/apple5.html