The Journals give a weekly update on events in our English apple orchards, using pictures and video clips to follow seasonal activities and giving the consumer a level of detail not available from any other source.
All aspects of growing, harvesting, storage, grading, packing and marketing are included enabling consumers to understand the challenges English growers face in supplying our sophisticated market place.
While there is enthusiastic support for older traditional varieties from dedicated interest groups and supportive media, the English Apple Man will endeavour to explain why support for the mainstream commercial production of English apples is vital to a sustainable apple industry in this country, delivering recognised benefits to the health of our consumers while maintaining our diverse and beautiful countryside.
Varieties grown commercially are relatively few in number, when matched against the 2300 varieties on display at The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale in Kent and while there is an increasing desire by all parties to retain and where possible reintroduce the best of our heritage varieties, the sustainability of our apple acreage depends on no more than a dozen varieties.
However, that does not mean we should dismiss all the efforts of growers determined to maintain our many heritage varieties, we must support all our producers, whether they be small in acreage, selling directly to the consumer, or large scale operations growing a thousand acres or more and totally dependent on supplying our supermarkets.
The History of The English Apple Man is a story of a lifetime spent in the industry, as a boy straight out of school, then as a young man developing all the practical knowledge of growing and later taking on the management of the family fruit farm, then changing course to join the major supplier of English Apples in a technical role and finally becoming Technical Director with a responsibility for product and environmental safety, product quality, and technical innovation.
Now retired, The English Apple Man will bring his unique experience of the English apple industry to all who visit the English Apple Man website.
This year the 2024 National Fruit Show has a new format. It will be a one day show on Wednesday 6th November
WOW it's been a funny old week!
On Wednesday evening of last week (18th June) while planning to water our garden baskets, I sat for a moment contemplating a few small plants I had left over, pondering where to place them. I decided in a pot by our small fish pond. Rising from the chair I lost my balance completely and fell headfirst into the pond!!!!!!
A frightening experience for an 83 year old as I was underwater facing down and in that matter of a few seconds, thought I would drown!
Somehow I managed to turn over onto my back and feeling very stupid wondered how I would get out!
Being one of these creatures who always has my mobile phone in my pocket, and fortunately not very wet and working, I rang my wife who was sitting indoors obliviously watching TV. " Help, I've fallen over, in the pond" - she heard the fallen over bit, but not the pond bit!
A few moments later she arrived at the back door, stood on the top step and seeing me sitting 'forlornly' in the pond, started laughing!
I don't know what your laughing at I roared, I could have been drowned!!!!
Friends know I have been suffering with mobility for some time, unsteady at times and I had no idea how to get out! So my wife rang our friendly neighbours and they came round and pulled me out and sat me on a wooden chair wet and very despondent. But not before trying to 'smother laughter' -
Ten days later and I am still feeling the aches and pains!
As The English Apple Man progresses into his eighties (83 & counting) sadly we lose friends. They may be family, close friends or members of the farming fraternity that 'one' has worked with and where friendships have developed.
Over the last few years The English Apple Man has attended and paid homage to many friends who have enriched many lives with their personality, their farming and personal achievements that go beyond their daily lives and bring happiness to those within their social circle.
Below: Lesley and Sandys Dawes
This week I attended the funeral of a great lady; Lesley Ellen Dawes 'chatelaine' of Mount Ephraim House and gardens where the Dawes family settled more than 300 years ago. The funeral service was held in St. Michaels Church in Herne Hill.
In a tribute to her mother from daughter Lucy:
"Mum first came to Mount Ephraim in the late 1960s, having travelled overland and sea from Australia with Dad whom she met at Melbourne university. From a more humble background in Ballarat near Melbourne, I know mum found it a little daunting at first, but it came to be where she would call home.
The gardens were first opened in 1985, and even though mum was a microbiologist by background, she threw her heart and soul into the gardens and opened a tea room for the visitors. Garden events followed, then outdoor theatre, weddings and festivals. Nothing was ever too much for mum, dad and Miz to try". (Miz was Lucy's Grandma Mary Dawes)
With five kids, a large extended family and many, many friends from all over the world, we filled the house with joy and laughter, a little bit of mischief, and so much fun".
In our orchards we are now at the stage where fruit size has passed the point of chemical thinning and any thinning will be done by hand.
Growers assess crop load by variety before making thinning decisions. For example Braeburn can grow too large for the required specification if over thinned (or carrying a lighter crop load) so it's best to leave fruit numbers and maintain a natural control over fruit size. Gala tends to overset and if not thinned early can in some seasons struggle for 'optimum size' at harvest.
Cell division which takes place for circa 6 weeks from fruit set. End of June? This year weather has been perfect for cell division and this should naturally assist fruit size, but very importantly enhance fruit texture and storage capability!
Most growers try to thin early 'where required' leaving any future thinning closer to harvest where a 'quality hand thinning' operation enables ease of picking at harvest with only any obvious defective apples dropped on the ground. e.g. rots from bird pecks, visibly diseased fruit etc.
Below: left. Gala apples in need of thinning and right. after an initial thin
Oh Dear, Oh Dear, Oh Dear!!!
In more than 15 years, The English Apple Man has been published on line every week, normally on a Friday evening, but occasionally a bit late e.g. on a Saturday!
This week catastrophe!
My admin site refused my entry, worries of PC hacking filled my brain but finally got sorted by my English Apple Man web site administrator!!!
In view of the circumstances, only now, on Saturday evening am I starting to write this weeks Journal. I am taking the easy way out and publishing Ali Capper's news release on British Apples and Pears website regarding export opportunities to VIETNAM
Frank P Matthews Trees Celebrates Silver-Gilt Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
The English Apple Man is delighted to feature my friends, Nick Dunn and his daughter Stephanie Dunn-James exciting first attempt at exhibiting at Chelsea Flower Show
Frank P Matthews Trees is proud to announce that its debut exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 has been honoured with a prestigious Silver-Gilt Medal. This recognition celebrates the nursery's innovative presentation and horticultural excellence showcased in the Great Pavilion.
Below: Nick Dunn and Stephanie Dunn-James with their Silver Gilt Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
The exhibit, a first of its kind at Chelsea, focused on the genus Malus, highlighting their diverse flower colours, unique leaf shapes, and varied tree forms.
Click on: Frank P Matthews Chelsea 2025 "then click on 'ABOUT US' to access Steph's Video of the FPM story".
"Visitors experienced a display of over 35 different flowering forms of Malus including some fine example of trained fruit trees which got the most attention from the public (Espaliers, stepovers, candelabra shapes), showing how you can grow fruit trees inventively at home
"We are thrilled to receive the Silver-Gilt Medal on our first appearance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show," said Stephanie James Dunn, 4th Generation at Frank P Matthews.
"This award is a testament to our team's dedication and passion for showcasing the beauty and versatility of ornamental trees."
This week, The English Apple Man spent a day with Darren Wallis AC Goatham's Technical Manager visiting a number of fruit farms in the AC Goatham business. the largest apple and pear growing business in the UK.
The business has changed considerably since it was started in 1947 by Clive's parents, Arthur and Phyllis Goatham, who began buying fruit directly from the farm gate, picking it, packing it and taking it to wholesale markets.
Today ACG grow apples and pears on 26 farms totalling circa 3,000 acres spread across Kent from their headquarters at Flanders Farm, Hoo, Rochester on the Isle of Grain to Farms in East Kent
My day with Darren 'consolidated my appreciation' of what it takes to build a business of this size and scale. There are many key factors which collectively demonstrate the holistic nature of success!
There are many very good growers growing equally excellent apples and pears, but few who manage to succeed on the massive scale of AC Goatham.
It starts at the top and Clive Goatham is a remarkable but in many ways an 'understated' leader. I have observed over a number of years he has built a management structure where he chooses high quality managers, and importantly allows them to manage!
Growing on this scale also requires a 'uniform orchard system' as we drive around the thousands of acres, the uniformity of growing system and uniformity of trees within each row is outstanding!
For an understanding of the ACG history. Click on: AC Goatham celebrates 70 years
While the potential 'fruit set' is at the heart of this week's English Apple Man Journal, The EAM highlights a scientist who has achieved so much while working at Niab East Malling in Kent and Growing Kent & Medway.
Her recollections of our first meeting in Kent at an open day at East Malling are clearer than mine (brain fade!) but we met when she and her husband Richard joined NIAB Emr. My knowledge of apple growing (her words) was an introduction to 'to the top fruit sector' for her and Richard.
Over the years I have enjoyed a great relationship with Nikki and Richard during my many visits to NIAB EMR.
Following Richard's appointment as the Managing Director of the Plant Sciences Group Wageningen Research, in the Netherlands Nikki has been a regular weekend commuter to join Richard in Holland
Dr Nikki Harrison departs role as Director o Growing Kent & Medway
After an incredible four years at Growing Kent & Medway, I have taken the difficult decision to leave my role to take up a new position in the Netherlands.
I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved so far and I leave knowing the team remains committed to our mission to support the sector and to drive sustainable, economic growth in the region. It has been a privilege to oversee the investment of £8.6 million in cutting-edge research facilities which have significantly boosted the region's capabilities.
We have awarded over £3.9 million in grant funding that is having a tangible impact on the sustainability of our food and farming systems. Networking and partnerships have been at the core of our strategy, and we have recorded over 220 new collaborations between businesses and research organisations so far, helping to drive innovation and bring new products and processes to market.
I want to thank all of the Growing Kent & Medway partners, industry representatives and my team for their support in delivering exceptional technical and business services. A new Director has been appointed and will be announced soon. I look forward to watching the programme continue to grow in the future under their leadership. Dr Nikki Harrison
Click on: Growing Kent & Medway for an overview of GK&M 2023