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We try to run our house along democratic lines. This, I'm convinced, is the right way to be, but it does mean that a final decision can be difficult to reach, especially on things we all care passionately about.The scruffy, peculiar-looking apple

. While I was there I thought I may as well do a couple of jobs, so I set about thinning out the fruit on the apple trees. This year my three apple trees have flowered and set fruit beautifully; the branches are laden with bunches of marble-sized fruits

enjoyed it. They're juicier than ever.My first apples to ripen are 'Ellison's Orange' in mid-September, and this is one variety that really must be eaten straight from the tree. When you do the apples are crisp and juicy, but sadly they don't stay in good

't buy in a million years anyway.But last year my persistence paid off and I came away with a standard apple tree shoved into the car for the bargain price of a fiver! Okay my little 'Fiesta' apple was a bit battered and careworn - not least after

like the Victoria plums to come, we've feasted constantly - and we're still looking forward to acres of apple tart and mountains of apple-filled pancakes, as well as, of course, enjoying it all straight from the tree. Weather apart, I have a feeling

there - the trees are blossoming like there's no tomorrow. My children and I gave my wife a small orchard for her birthday in 2000. It always looks gorgeous at this time of year, and gets better every season as the trees mature.We planted young, whippy trees - a

, it's the apples and pears that have been the subject of my attentions. As we know, apple trees blossom picturesquely in spring. These flowers then develop into small fruits and then, in June, the tree shrugs and loses a fair few of these (this

trees that are worth looking into. Fruit trees are grown on different rootstocks and, depending on which one you choose, these regulate the eventual height of the tree - useful not just for small gardens, but also because it means that the best apples

Spot the odd one out from these four: 1) Quincy Jones (Music Producer who worked with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra). 2) Thomas de Quincey (ferociously clever writer and drug addict). 3)Quincy ME (1970s television series starring Jack Klugman

to bite into an apple or plum and find a maggot inside (perhaps disappointing isn't quite strong enough). But how satisfying to hang a sticky pheromone trap in your trees and catch the culprits red handed, so to speak. They're out there, getting up