[AlaninCarlisle]

It is one of the apple trees I planted in 1982 when we moved here. The crop this year is by far the best we've had from it in the thirty-odd years since it started fruiting. Huge, flawless, nutty-flavoured apples that keep well and at a guess, well over 70 kg of them. Nobody leaves here without a bag full of them. Can it be the wet late summer that's created this?

[Mr Dog]

My tree is 2 years old. Last year someone took all but about 5 that had been half eaten by birds much to Mrs Dog's annoyance! This year we've had plenty but they've been minute, a 'big' one being about 2" diameter    (the Cox, and to a lesser extent the Bramleys, have been the same while the Gala and an unknown variety have produced masses of large fruit). Tasty though! Hoping next year will be the year....

[Dev]

Congratulations Alan. I have a pear tree on my plot and have a good crop this year. Other allotmenteers have made apples available so have plenty of fruit - more than we can eat - so I invested in a dehydrator. Turns out one of the best ideas I've had for long term storage - the apples and pears are a bit chewy, but the flavour is concentrated and sweet. Works well with tomatoes too. Only trouble now is we keep a bowl on the kitchen worktop and can't stop chewing them every time we walk past. At least we are not wasting them! When I see the amount of fruit wasted on the allotment when it is left to fall I could weep (I'm a sentimental anti-waster!)