My name's Edgar Ashman and I'm what they call the third gardener here at Audley End House

It's a very good position for someone of my age and I'm really proud to be working here

But I've got a lot to learn, especially if I'm going to make it as head gardener

The head gardener here at Audley End, Mr Vert, insists that I take notes throughout the day for future reference

My diary is also useful for keeping a note of the weather and assessing how different crops respond to the conditions

It also allows for me to compare other gardens I've worked at to Audley End

It also means that if Mr Vert asks me a question

I'll have an answer for him

Well I'd better get a move on

Mrs Crocombe the cook has asked for some Golden Noble apples for one of her recipes

She's a wonderfully talented cook - everyone thinks so

You should smell her cooking

It's making me hungry just thinking about it

Apples are the staple of any kitchen garden nowadays

and here at Audley End we grow over 150 types of apple

and across the country 2000 types are grown

Competition between gardeners is fierce

Mr Vert is very particular about his apples

Like most things in the garden, he's always striving for perfection

and I don't want to let him down

Today we're going to harvest our Golden Noble apples which are perfect for cooking

Golden Noble sounds like a very regal name doesn't it

They produce large fruits with a sharp fruity flavor and plenty of juice

They've been grown in this country since around 1820

Oh look! Here comes Mr Vert now

Good morning Edgar

How are the apples looking?

Very good, Sir

So your harvesting apples yourself today

First time in these gardens isn't it?

Yes, Sir

Right then Edgar

Can you tell me what is the very first thing you need to keep in mind before harvesting apples?

I need to assess whether the trees on the bushes

are ready for picking

Quite right and how do you do that?

We assess a small number of fruits for their ripeness

I've read up about these apples and they should be ready

They're not an early like a Worcester Pearmain or a Beauty of Bath

But what happens in the books and what happens in the garden are two

very different things

There's a few windfalls here so that's a good sign

And what do we do with the windfalls?

Don't leave them for the wasps, Sir

If they're edible but slightly bruised then they go in for the bothy dinner

If they're too far gone then we give them to the pigs

Very good. Now back to the apples on the tree

I'm going to twist it gently with an upwards motion to see if

it comes off easy if there's any resistance then I know it's not ready

and we don't want any blemishes either

Not unless we know they're going for the servants' pies

Good lad. Remember to pick them at the right time too so we get the

best flavour and the longest storage life check and check again for the ones we're

storing even the slightest bruise can make it rot

And don't forget to take a basket of apples to Mrs Crocombe today

Yes, Sir

I hear she's making gateau de pomme

Gateau de pomme?

Sounds fancy!

I think it's like an apple marmalade or a fruit cheese

I'm just going to take a look at these apples and see what we've got

These are suitably ready

I'll leave it to it now then, Edgar, and go and check on the glass houses

Yes, Sir

Don't take too long

you know Mrs Crocombe doesn't like to be kept waiting

I need to make sure I do a really good job at this because as you heard this is

the first time I've harvested the apples here by myself

and Mr Vert will be keeping a close eye on me to make sure I do a good job

All I need to harvest the apples are my hands and a trug

The apple should come away from the plant

from the spur like this one here

it should come away nice and easy

with the stalk still intact

Another good indicator that the apple is ready for harvest

is when it takes on a brighter colour

and when the pips turn from white to brown

You have to handle them gently because bruised fruit won't keep

and Mrs Crocombe and Mr Vert won't be very happy with me

they'll have my guts for garters!

Now I don't want to harvest all of these apples at once I have to

make sure that they're all ready

For example, some apples will become riper

quicker than others, especially if the sun is shining on them

Now I have to keep a close eye on all of the apples to make sure that we don't have brown rot

which is a fungal disease. But everything seems to look good so I'm going to carry

on because I'm sure Mrs Crocombe is anxious to get her apples

It's a constant battle between the gardeners and the cooks

It was like my last house where the head gardener wanted all of the fruits and vegetables to be huge so

they could win prizes at the fair and the cook she wanted everything to be

delicate on the table and full of flavor

It was like a war over the kitchen garden wall!

Edgar!

Have you finished yet? Mrs Crocombe needs the apples

I've got a few trucks, Sir

Good lad. The others can go into storage and should keep through the autumn

You'll need to clean up out here too but first

go to the kitchens and give Mrs Crocombe the apples

And act sharpish, she's not best pleased

Yes, Sir

There you are!

I was beginning to think I was going to have to grow the apples myself!

Sorry

Mrs Crocombe, they're here

Ah! Finally!

Let me have a look

I picked them myself, Mrs Crocombe

There won't be a bruise on them

Gardens finest

Hmmm good they'll be perfect for my gateau de pomme

I hope there's plenty more in storage I plan to make a dish that requires whole

apples and for that one we need all the apples to be the same size

Of course, Mrs Crocombe

I must be leaving, Mr Vert's expecting me

I must get on

Good day to you

Good day Mrs Crocombe

As Mrs Crocome and Mr Vert asked, I put a selection of apples into storage to

preserve them and keep them cool

and now I'm cleaning up

When we do store the apples, we use a larder or we use one of our garden sheds

So long as it's cool, dark, humid and ventilated we should be fine

Anyway it looks like it's starting to rain

so I'm going to make a quick note of all of the things that we've

done today in the garden and then I'm going to call it a day

Now, if there's a specific gardening method you'd like me to show you

why not write me a note below and perhaps Mr Vert will let me teach you next time now

I'm sure I'm going to see you again soon, but in the meantime I think you'll agree

there's more to apple harvesting than you may have thought