November

This first week has not reminded me of typical November weather, when cycling to school in the next village, towards the end of the 1950s. We have been in receipt of over 60mm in just seven days. The temperatures have yet to gravitate downwards.

Our quince have now come to the end. Amazingly, they survived all that the elements either threw at them , or withheld mercilessly through the summer. They bulked steadily through September and ripened well.

Now for the medlars. It is imperative that medlars are picked when they are bone dry – so, yes we have been interupted with picking. The effect of the dry season has initiated an early leaf drop , so the fruits are, at the moment very obviously displayed. Hopefully once this turbulent air mass has passed us by both drying and then picking can be achieved. The process of bletting results in a very soft fruit, not to be confused with moulds growing on the outside of the skin initiated particularly by being picked when damp and heating up in a tray.

I haven’t remarked on apples much recently. We have had more fruits overall this season than in recent years. Throughout we have been aware of the effects of hot sun. Early September brought some relief in the form of rain though this has proved to be to the dertriment of the quality of some traditional varieties – even renowned ‘tough’ Essex varieties like Sturmer Pippin and D’arcy Spice have not gone unscathed. Our best fruit has now all been allocated. Some bags of apples of different varieties will continue to be available at the farm into December.