APPARENTLY every black cloud has a silver lining - although while you've been dodging the deluges this summer, it probably hasn't seemed like it.

Well, now comes the good news.

Summer 2004 was all working up to one of the best autumn apple seasons in living memory. Seeing as some folks' memory is longer than others, let's say the last 30 years.

The orchards are heaving with record crops, be they apples for eating, cooking or cider.

Pear and plumb yields have been bumper too as the English weather says sorry for messing up the beach in August.

Of course, you might expect commercial growers to produce a good tonnage - after all, their livelihood depends on it and they have access to all the latest sprays, fertilisers and gadgets to grow and pick the very best fruit.

But your own apple or pear tree in the back garden should be well blessed too this autumn. If it's not, you might like to pop along to a special day Broomfields, the fruit growers at Holt Heath, are holding next Saturday, October 16.

They are the largest apple and pear growers in north Worcestershire and know all the secrets.

"We will be offering free advice to people on how to identify and counter pests and diseases," said Colin Broomfield, the third generation of the family to head the firm.

"Sometimes apples just don't grow or fade after a promising beginning and we will be trying to help people with their problems.

"When you move house, you can inherit an apple tree or two in a garden, but never know the variety. Bring an example along and we'll try to identify it for you.

"We will also recommend what apples to grow and how to grow them in particular sites and situations.

"And there will be the chance to try some of the 32 different varieties of apples we grow. You never know you might come across one you've never heard of before and love it."

Broomfields can trace their history back before the First World War when Colin's grandfather, Stanley, was growing Bramley cooking apples on four acres of land on the edge of Bromsgrove.

After the war, the land was compulsorily purchased by the local authority for housing and with the money, Stanley Broomfield bought School Plantation at Holt Heath, then growing plums and damsons for the Duke of Warwick.

In the 1920s, the soft fruit was interspersed with apple trees and then Colin's father, Maurice, planted the first pear trees at in the Holt orchard during his school Christmas holidays in the 1940s.

Now the plantation's 20 acres grow apples, pears, raspberries and pumpkins.

"We grow eight varieties of apples and five of pears at Holt," said Colin. "But we now have a larger farm at Cutnall Green that stretches to 70 acres and in all we grow 32 varieties of apples, six of pears and seven of cherries, plus a lot of other things."

Broomfields' most recent addition is a new variety from Belgium called Collina. Its advantage is it's a very "early" apple and is usually ready in July, thus expanding the picking season.

A number of factors combined to make 2004 a memorable apple growing summer.

For a start, the orchards largely escaped any late frosts in April and May, which can kill the blossom and nip the crop in the bud, so to speak.

Then - although you may not remember it now - there were several hot spells in May and early June to encourage growth of the fruit.

"After that there was a lot of rain in July and August, when the weather is usually drier, and the apples just kept on growing," Colin explained.

"It's all added up to an exceptional crop."

Broomfields' pickers are an eclectic mix of the ancient - if they don't mind me saying so - and the modern.

"We have some local ladies who have been picking for us for more than 25 years and then there are youngsters during the school holidays.

"We also have European Union agricultural students on exchange schemes. Last year we had a lovely couple, a lad and a girl from the Czech Republic who arrived as boyfriend and girlfriend and this summer they came back married.

"Sadly, they've returned home now because their university term has started."

So what would be the advice from the experts if you wanted to plant a few apple trees in your own garden?

"Well, you've got plenty to chose from, because there are 1,800 varieties," said Colin. "Apples go back to Roman times - Adam and Eve even.

"A good early apple that is a good cropper and should be ready in August is Discovery, while Lord Lambourne is a very resilient apple that will grow in difficult conditions and is ready in early September.

"For an apple to pick in October, try Spartan."

Young trees cost around £15 each from specialist growers or garden centres and although autumn used to be the traditional season to plant out, with modern container growing methods they can now be planted out almost any time, but obviously avoid severe weather conditions.

Keep young trees well fed with natural fertiliser and well watered and you too could be top of the crops in 2005.