Posted: Fri Apr 15, 11 11:37 am Post subject: An abundance of fruit tree blossom?
In our orchards this year, just about every fruit tree thats capable, is in fantastic full bloom. Its very early days yet, but lets hope that this bodes well for bumper crops. I don't know if its a coicidence but this has also gone hand in hand with us seeing more bumblebees on the blossom this year than in previous years. Have you noticed more blossom than usual in your area?
I'm particularly pleased to see that one of the perry pear trees that we planted in December 2008 has also decided to join in. Its an 'Early Helen' variety.
The fifty odd maiden apple trees that we planted this January are also a riot of pink flowers but obviously as nice as it is to see, any fruits on them will be removed to help the tree establish itself.
The miribel type plum has finished blossoming, the pears and peaches are doing nicely and so are the cherries. The apples have just started. All are old trees - probably about 50 yrs old, planted when the bungalow was built. I usually get a few pounds of plums, the apples and pears didn't do much last year, but the year before they were dripping with fruit, The cherries are usually ok, just have to beat the blackbirds, the peaches have never produced any fruit.
I cut down all my Bramley apple trees last year because of canker problems. Our climate here in North wales just isn't right for them.
I went on a pruning course with Ian Sturrock ( he of Bardsey apple fame) who reckoned that there wasn't a Bramley in our region that didn't suffer with it.
How bad is the canker on your apricots and is it a regular problem? Having seen my friends apricots and peaches growing in NYS, I considered trying some here myself.
Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 15425 Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 11 12:15 pm Post subject:
I was noticing the same thing just now. Some of the street trees here, tiny little things barely more than a big twig, absolutely heaving with blossom: you couldn't even see the tree for it.
LynneA
Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 4893 Location: London N21
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 11 12:30 pm Post subject:
My tiddler of a Ribston Pippin has started flowering this past week. The estate our house is in is dotted with crab apples, and the hospital that used to be here had an orchard, so pollination is no problem. The Hen's Turd cider apple I bought at the same time is hardly breaking bud yet, so I may have to check if I have any trees in the latest flowering group. If not, I have an excuse to get another tree
and the climate wher yo are must be a heck of a lot dryer than ours
Not half, problem though is damp autumns and springs, this year's the sunniest spring we've had since we moved here, but it was blinking wet last spring and autumn.
My tiddler of a Ribston Pippin has started flowering this past week. The estate our house is in is dotted with crab apples, and the hospital that used to be here had an orchard, so pollination is no problem. The Hen's Turd cider apple I bought at the same time is hardly breaking bud yet, so I may have to check if I have any trees in the latest flowering group. If not, I have an excuse to get another tree
I'm just off to check my Pomona for 'HensTurd' cider apples Lynne. Its yet another one that I haven't heard of. Baring in mind my desire to eventually become a commercial cider producer, I was wondering how Hens Turd cider might go down with the punters?
joanne
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 7100 Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 11 1:03 pm Post subject:
My crab apple is budding with blossom but not out yet - another week or so before that happens - my bullace has flowered for the first time ever as has another apple tree that has been in for about 4 years so I'm really chuffed - the pear tree isn't doing anything & tbh I think it is in the wrong spot even though I know they are slow growers
yummersetter
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 3241 Location: Somerset
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 11 1:36 pm Post subject:
Gorgeous here, but just in the first week of full apple blossom. I noticed last week that some of the apples are more perfumed (James Grieve, Ribston Pippin) and those were the ones that were attracting the bees.
Usually any faint perfume is drowned in the overwhelming scent of the pittisporum, which fills the whole garden and orchard, but it's looking like a decidedly dead tree this tree.
The blossom itself, leafbreak and flowering time is so different between the apple varieties, it seems that would be good to record if you're trying to identify an unknown variety.
Court Pendu Plat, Orleans Reinette and Pomeroy of Somerset have just broken their buds, they'll be several weeks longer before they're in full flower.
12Bore
Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 9089 Location: Paddling in the Mersey
My tiddler of a Ribston Pippin has started flowering this past week. The estate our house is in is dotted with crab apples, and the hospital that used to be here had an orchard, so pollination is no problem. The Hen's Turd cider apple I bought at the same time is hardly breaking bud yet, so I may have to check if I have any trees in the latest flowering group. If not, I have an excuse to get another tree
I'm just off to check my Pomona for 'HensTurd' cider apples Lynne. Its yet another one that I haven't heard of. Baring in mind my desire to eventually become a commercial cider producer, I was wondering how Hens Turd cider might go down with the punters?
Its yet another one that I haven't heard of. Baring in mind my desire to eventually become a commercial cider producer, I was wondering how Hens Turd cider might go down with the punters? 
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