Top fruit - how is it for you?

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Top fruit - how is it for you?
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soufle

Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 8

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 13 8:32 pm Post subject:

its been really cold and raw in east norfolk, wind off the sea a lot this spring.There isnt much obvious insect activity.I have giant Echiums flowering, usually you can hear the hum of bees from a distance but this year we're talking two or three tiny black bumble bee types and one with an orange bum. I always think things are bad when you can count them
Still, I checked the apples again today and it looks like there has been a good set. One is covered, never seen so many. I bought it as Ashmeades Kernel, it isnt but its a really good variety whatever it is. Hopefully someone might be able to help with identifying it later in the season. ?
Woo...
Ive grown rhubarb from seed this year, two varieties.Ive kept 24 of each ,cant bear to chuck things once theyve germinated. How ,long was it before you were able to pick any ?

Mithril

Joined: 22 Jul 2011
Posts: 1755
Location: wessex

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 13 8:40 pm Post subject:
Checked my trees again today and I guess the bees have been busy whilst I wasn't looking - loads of fruit set on both the apple trees. I think the few blossoms on the young medlar have set too But still no blossom on the young plum tree (Denniston's Superb)

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 13 9:33 pm Post subject:

Plums are like that - I find that young plants just grow leaves for three or four years, then there's a sprinkling of flowers which might give you half a dozen plums then the following year they're off and running.

However, I have a 15 year old Anna Spath plum which always flowers and has a good crop but it only had a handful of blossoms this year. I think the wood needs a good baking in autumn to have a lot of flower buds in the following spring

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 13 6:20 am Post subject:

A lot of blossom on the trees round here. I hope the Bardsey apple managed to set fruit before the high wind blew the flowers off. I'm hopeful since it manages it on Bardsey. The plums we planted as part of a field boundary got caught in a grass fire in the hay meadow. I do hope they survive but I am not expecting any plums.

The blackcurrant look very good this year. I might have to consider a fruit cage.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 13 8:56 am Post subject:
Loads of fruit set on the trees in my garden (apples, a pear and a cherry). I think they might benefit from being underplanted with comfrey, there are bees everywhere!

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 13 10:43 pm Post subject:

soufle wrote:

Woo...
Ive grown rhubarb from seed this year, two varieties.Ive kept 24 of each ,cant bear to chuck things once theyve germinated. How ,long was it before you were able to pick any ?

i have had a couple of cakes worth and there is plenty more. i was told to leave it be last year and harvest it once it established again this year. i seem to recall its victoria. by the look of things about 5 of the eight which made it through have taken again. we are not good at thinning out, if there is ever a drought again we may have to learn to be more ruthless!
i also have a root stock plant i bought in as i was too impatient to wait last year

they are now difficult to tell apart so i am proud of my seedlings.

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 13 7:25 am Post subject:

Quote:

I think they might benefit from being underplanted with comfrey,

Now thats a good idea! I'm starting from scratch (again

) with a barren allotment so my fruit bushes are tiny this year but I think i'll nick your comfrey carpet idea for next year

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 13 7:34 am Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

I think i'll nick your comfrey carpet idea for next year

It's currently a 4 foot high carpet!

Mithril

Joined: 22 Jul 2011
Posts: 1755
Location: wessex

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 13 3:43 pm Post subject:
So excited - I hope nothing untoward befalls them. I've never had medlar before (only in bought preserves). Click to see full size image

tai haku

Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 472

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 13 6:42 am Post subject:
this is growing against a wall in our local waitrose carpark. I shall be monitoring its development with interest (and a mindset disposed towards gleaning)

soufle

Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 8

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 13 8:46 am Post subject:
thanks Woo, Ive potted all my rhubarb from the cells and will plant out later.I'm wondering wether to plant through weed emembrane in order to try and keep the row clean. I wonder if anyone has experience of this. I too bought a couple of offsets, one flourished ,one died.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15600

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 13 6:25 am Post subject:
Might be worth a try. If it doesn't work you have nothing but the cost of the membrane to lose, and the trouble of getting it off the bed. The quince seems to have set a lot of fruit this year which is great. Think there are some apples set too.

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 13 10:24 am Post subject:
we have weeds round the patch but to be honest i find the leaf cover stops much getting hold around the crowns. then in the winter it gets a covering of chicken poop and straw.

tai haku

Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 472

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 13 5:44 pm Post subject:

first apples of the new orchard:

Bright future....

Laxton's Pearmain

Should probably knock them off as the trees are still small but for a few days at least they can sit there making me feel good about the 25 additional trees I ordered last night for delivery this winter (I had to: there was a discount if I ordered that many, it would be uneconomical not too .

)

In other news this looks like it might just be a very very young set medlar fruit to me....

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15600

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 13 4:45 pm Post subject:
Could well be. You will know in a few weeks.

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