Ashmead's Kernel

Ashmead's Kernel is an old local variety, with a unique taste, having been raised by Dr Ashmead in Gloucester, England in the 18th century. Tasters rarely agree on exactly what the elusive flavour reminds them of, but pear drops is probably close.

This blip is for Issy who's not come home from Uni for Easter but taken herself off on a two week permaculture design course in Devon. It's on the edge of Dartmoor with wonderful views and early reports say it's an amazing learning experience.

Anyway this blip is for you - here's the leaves on the Ashmead's Kernel you grafted two years ago. Looking nice and healthy. I've just pruned off all the lower branches and just left three main ones to take all the growth this year. I think it'll have lovely blossom and them I'll remove the apples that form so they don't take up the growing energy (I think this is the right thing to do) so it's a while yet before you get to taste one.

My Lodgemore Nonpareil grafted at the same time (raised about the year 1808 by Mr. Cook, of Lodgemore, near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, and was long known as Lodgemore Seedling; but the garden being afterwards rented by Mr. Clissold, a nurseryman at Stroud, he propagated and sold it under the name of Clissold's Seedling) isn't as far advanced and may have suffered in the big freeze. I'll be watching it closely.

Hope the sun keeps shining in Devon for you, it's a beautiful day here today.