The Journal gives 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.
Nine months into the current British apple season, UK supermarkets have bought a record volume of British apples from growers, with the race for BAPL Retailer of the Year entering its final stretch....
BAPL announce sales to date of British apples - Tesco lead the way followed by ALDI and LIDL
British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL), which represents UK growers, collates monthly data on purchases of British apples and pears by UK retailers. Analysis of the first nine months of the 2025/26 season (September 2025 to May 2026 inclusive) shows total British apple sales have reached 138,823 tonnes - the highest level for the same period in the last four seasons.
Whew! - the weather has been exceptionally hot and we oldies have been in survival mode, but
at last some relief as temperatures drop to a more acceptable level
Comparisons have been made with the summer of 1976 and I can remember that summer and the events around that time with great clarity!
It started in 1975 and carried on for another 5 years. My beloved father died in the spring of 1975. And that seemed to set in place a sequence of events which influenced my life until 1980.
In 1975 started growing Strawberries in 'Clovis Lande' polytunnels. These tunnels were 14feet wide and 65 feet long. The retention of the plastic covers achieved by digging a trench around the perimeter, and burying the plastic in the trench.
Over the next 50 years that simple format has evolved into very sophisticated growing systems with automatic venting central to the format.
Recently The English Apple Man attended a really enjoyable evening where Chris and Sheena Levett told the story of where and when apples arrived in Kent. Chris & Sheena have been friends for many years, as we both farmed in Hawkhurst, one on each side of the village.
The Venue: Ticehurst Village Hall. 'Ticehurst Talks' are held there raising funds for refurbishment of the venue, which has a notable history. Peter Reeves Chaired the event.
Peter farms in Ticehurst on the edge of the Bewl Bridge reservoir, his original farm and farmhouse is now well under the reservoir.
Ticehurst Talks
Thursday, June 11th 2026 - CHRIS and SHEENAGH LEVETT - The History of Apples
Is it CRUNCH TIME for the Kent apple industry?
Apple growers Chris and Sheenagh presented a talk on the history of apple growing in Kent, and answer the question - "Why are so many apple orchards disappearing?"
Have you ever wondered why Kent became known as the Garden of England? What about the stories behind little known apple varieties such as 'Cow's Snout' or 'Lady Sudely' or even the the ancient practice of Wassailing?
The English apple industry has had its highs and lows for centuries and has had to adapt to huge changes. We shall follow the story from 4000BC to the present day, and peek into the future for the Kent apple into the 21st Century.
EAM Addition It seems that at some point, around 50 to 65 million years ago, the apple ancestor separated from its Rosaceae cousins on the evolutionary pathway. By duplicating almost all of its genome, apples now have very different fruit characteristics to related plants, such as peaches, raspberries, and strawberries.
Below: The apple originated in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kasakhstan close to China 4,000 years ago. Over the centuries the apple made it's way Westwards via the 'silk road' the seeds spread by the hooves of camels and horses until it reached the the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates about 3,800 years ago where the discovery of budding and grafting onto a rootstock enabled propagation and multiplication of a distinct variety.
So sorry to my readers my Journal for 12th June was scuppered!
On entering the website ready to write the Journal, the password entry point would not allow me in!
Having tried unsuccessfully several times, I tried my administrator but could not make contact!
So no Journal!!!!
As we enter June, a plethora of pests launches into 'action' in our apple and pear orchards!
Mowing, Tying tree tops, thinning, dealing with 'early season pests' - Rosy apple aphid and Pear sucker are high on the list. But spraying to control apple scab and mildew are a vital part of our routine 'pest control'
Below: AC Goatham & Sons - Tractor Driver mowing looking down on orchards at Gore Farm Upchurch
Operative at AC Goatham tying the tops of trees in one of their orchards. Trees are kept at 3m high and right. Ladybirds making love while feeding (predation) on rosy apple aphids
Below: Left and right. fruitlets are now growing beyond the stage where fruit thinning sprays are effective (8-12 mm)
The English Apple Man Comments
I intended to deal with these "Pesky Pests" but scrolling back a year, I found a comprehensive version which matches well this time of year so instead of writing it all again, this week I draw readers attention to ................
Organic apple production is a challenge but Paul Ward has not only succeeded but built a large business over a 30 year period.
I first met Paul Ward back in 1996, just two years after he launched his organic business. With my Fruition Group colleague Graham we visited Paul hoping to arrange a supply of Organic apples to Waitrose who were a 'high profile' customer with a determination to support 'home grown organic produce'
Our relationship has continued and I have watched Paul build his business into the biggest organic apple farming business in the UK with 110 hectares of organic production. Mole End Farms is by nature 'a labour hungry operation' with circa 50 personnel (Trustees)
History
Mole End Farms Ltd was the brainchild of Paul Ward and Sara Rowan who, in 1994, decided that the time was right for a complete career change. Passionate believers in organics, they bought Mole End Farm in Chart Sutton and became the sole directors of Mole End Farms Ltd. This was followed by the purchase of Hartley Lands Farm at Cranbrook which they proceeded to convert to Soil Association organic standards and gradually over the years further holdings and organic orchards have been added.
In June 2017, after a long period of thought, deliberation and soul searching, Sara Rowan decided that the time was right to leave the business to pursue new challenges. Sara is an accomplished artist and had several commissions that she had been asked to do - she also hoped that weather permitting, she would have more time to ride her beloved Harley!
Mole End Farms grows top fruit organically on approximately 110 Hectares across 8 sites in Kent at Cranbrook, Marden, Goudhurst, Sandhurst and Chart Sutton. We grow, store, pack and market our own produce.
Mole End Farms is the biggest Organic Top Fruit Farm in the UK
WOW, The weather's turned 'ever so hot all of a sudden;
What's going on in our apple orchards?
I start with a caterpillar invasion. A call from my grand daughter alerted me to an invasion of caterpillars in the Espalier Apple trees in my son' garden. Now I have been growing apples for more than 60 years and I don't remember seeing these little 'critters!
Of course, at my age the memory is not so good!
In truth as our industry uses less chemicals, pests which would have been removed by a green cluster 'broad spectrum' insecticide would rarely be seen, now emerge...........
At this time of the year, apple and pear growers are busy assessing the 'fruit set' and deliberating the need for thinning.
What we do not expect are hailstorms!
We are always looking out for frost and there has been frost about, particularly worrying for our UK vineyards.
This week there has been some nasty weather about and hailstorms in some areas.
Hail is something that used to haunt me when I was a grower; back in 1978 after three 'testing years' I walked my orchards on a Monday with my agronomist and we marvelled at the potential crop, he said your Dad would have been so pleased and proud. That week I enjoyed the prospect of my patience and determination over the last 3 years finally 'coming good'
But Friday at around 5pm it 'hailed'
That year 60% of my apples were damaged, and the worst damage was on the outside of the tree where the potentially best apples wuld be in the sunshine!
Friday 24th April The English Apple Man together with circa 250 fellow mourners attended the Funeral of a Dear Friend.
Richard Frank Barnes was a wonderful friend to so many. Most of all a 'family man' with his wife Patricia, children Alistair, Catherine, Susannah and Mathew. His personality made such an impression on so many people and they were there to share their memories of him.
To say he was loved by all, is not an understatement!
Richard Frank Barnes was born in Sandhurst, Kent on the 11th of March 1944.
His parents were Stuart, a lifelong Arsenal fan and frugal tenant farmer, and Constance Barnes, a nurse, as was her daughter Richard's elder sister Janet. Home was Maplesden at Hole Park Estate in Benenden, Kent on a mixed farm, with a focus on flax (for silk) during the war, and hops after.
I am indebted to Richard's eldest son Alistair and his younger brother Matthew for allowing me to use part of their Eulogy to Richard.
Richard's daughters Catherine and Susannah expressed their love and memories for their father in a joint tribute of their own.
LOVE was at the centre of their memories. Their father's love for them, their love for him, his love for life and the many friends he made through out his life, his love for family gatherings, family holidays in France. Love was central to his life, anyone who met him loved him.
As we enter the month of May, The English Apple Man reflects on events
The weather has been dry for sometime now and while the land was so wet just a few weeks ago making tractor movement in the orchards difficult/impossible for early crop protection sprays to be applied, risking the early infection of apple scab. Now my grower friends are praying for some rain; 'not a deluge, just a nice steady rain'
Setting a crop?
Achieving a crop, e.g. setting flowers into fruitlets is dependent on pollination AND fertilization
Apple blossoms have five petals and numerous stamens, but the ovary consists of five carpels, each of which contain two ovules.
Next comes fertilisation, which can happen very quickly (hours) when temperatures are high, but days when the temperature is cold.
To achieve pollination and fertilization pollen must be passed from the pollen sacks to the style and grow down the pollen tube as quickly as possible. In warm weather this can happen in a matter of hours; in cold conditions it can take days. If the pollen does not reach the ovary in time (approx 4 days) it is too late!
The process is known as the Effective Pollination Period (EPP). The EPP varies by variety and Cox our national apple has a shorter EPP; no wonder it is difficult to achieve consistent heavy crops.
Over the last week the temperature has been favourable for EPP (although one or two reports of temperatures below freezing have been recorded.
It's a 'funny old game' tis fruit growing, we pray for favourable weather conditions during winter months; e.g. chilling. units, then worry about an overset, and start estimating the need for thinning!
In a week or two we will know, and thinning requirements will be decided.
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