Record earliness?

Small crop from Vista Bella (having a partial biennial year off), but having any sort of home-grown apple before the middle of July must be a record. Very nicely ripened, considering these were on the shady side. Nice balance of sweetness and acidity, slight 'strawberry' flavour, flesh and skin soft, with no trace of bitterness found in some summer reds.

Crop: Vista Bella

A good crop from M27 cordon of Vista Bella, I haven't picked it or weighed it but there will be sufficient to keep us happy until the next variety ripens.

Flavour is good. When first picked are crisp with a good balance of acidity and sweetness, which quickly mellows to a softer, more strawberry-like sweetness particularly on fruit with extensive blush. The skin is thin, with no trace of bitterness, so often the problem with early red varieties. The fruit quickly goes soft, mellows but then looses flavour, so they must be eaten quickly. The season lasts for 2-3 weeks at most, which is about right for this time of year when there is plenty of other fruit available, but home-grown apples are still a treat. Best eaten straight from the tree, as they drop or part easily.

Blossom - Vista Bella

Vista Bella flowering well in a non 'biennial' year.

Vista Bella: a year off?

Vista Bella, growing as a step-over on m27. This flowered and fruited very well last year, too well as this year it's decided to go biennial.