Medlar
Everywhere front gardens are being dug up and turned into car-parks. In the immortal word of Joni Mitchell: Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Even though I’m responsible for many a block paved drive during my former landscaping career I always hated to see front gardens going under hard tack. It may soon be illegal to do this without planning permission, and quite rightly so! Increasing loss of greenery is increasing urban summer temperatures because there’s a reduced cooling effect. With reduced drainage flash flooding is increasing not to mention loss of habitat for animals, especially the house sparrow. We’re determined to keep our front garden as green as possible with nectar flowers and bushes.
Soon after we moved into our house, just after the turn of the century, I thought it would be nice to have a fruit tree growing in the centre of our front lawn. The only problem with fruit trees in front gardens is scromping by local kids. I had a bit of a think about this problem and came up with the Medlar. I planted the Medlar variety “Nottingham”. It’s a lovely plant that will make a small tree. Nice shape with large oval leaves which turn golden in the autumn. Large white apple like flowers in the spring are pretty.
The Medlar fruit, which resemble a small russet apple with a large sepal scar, is inedible unless they are “bletted” This is where they are allowed to start to rot. They become darker and softer. The flavour and texture is like brown apple paste with a hint of lemon. Often eaten with cheese, made into jelly or “cheese” which is like lemon curd. I fancy trying, this year, baking with honey and cinnamon. I usually take them to work with my sandwiches and eat them as a sweet.
Above is a nice harvest of Medlars awaiting bletting.
This is our Medlar just after pruning. One or two remaining Medlars can be seen on the top of the tree. Scars on the trunk are from cat claws. Luckily you can’t see the cat turds on the lawn. Cats are the main pest in my life! and never welcome in my garden.
When my Medlars are bletted I intend to make a gallon of wine. So when they have bletted there will be an update soon. The wine will probably need to be laid down for a year before the full benefit of the drink can be appreciated.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
