Last year much of our early fruit blossom was spoiled. The March sunshine which encouraged the blossom to open turned into a cold and wet April which wasn't conducive to pollination and the promised fruit bounty failed to materialise.
I'm hoping this year that although the blossom will be late to develop that this will turn out to be a good thing resulting in effective pollination and lots of lovely fruits. You have to look on the bright side don't you?
I hope you're not too bored of my 'this year, last year' comparisons as here are some more.
Last year the pear trees were loaded with blossom at this time of the year but in the end failed to deliver a single fruit in spite of many fruitlets forming.
Last year the apples blossom seemed late but was at least in bud by this time of year.
The cherry on the plot, (and the one in the garden too), is showing the same reluctance to produce blossom.
The plum trees are usually early to produce blossom but this yet absolutely nothing yet!
In the garden the peach blossom was open on the 7 April last year but this year there is no sign of peach blossom yet.
The apricot and nectarine are a little further on but the buds haven't yet burst and seem to be in suspended animation.
It isn't just the tree blossom that is later. Last year on 7 April this was the stage that some of our soft fruit was at.
This year on exactly the same date the best they can do is to produce flower or leaf buds whichever comes first.
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I think a lot of novice gardeners will have big problems this year. If they are following instructions in a book which say "plant out in early April" they may lose a lot of stock! Experienced gardeners learn to judge the right moment for doing things. What do you think will be the Last Frost Day in Ossett this year??
ReplyDeleteUnder normal circumstances we would be looking at mid-May for last frosts, Mark but by the beginning of May we would maybe be risking things with maybe the odd blip later in the month. The instruction book is flawed isn't it?
DeleteHopefully the late flowering wont impact on eventual yield.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the bad start shocks them into producing lots, Liz
DeleteWhat a difference the weather makes! I remember having strawberries fruiting really early last year, this year, they just look a bit sorry for themselves. Hopefully it will warm up soon and everything can start to catch up.
ReplyDeleteI was tidying up our strawberries this week which will be a post later, Paula.
DeleteI was hoping that my fruit trees would hold back flowering for a while too but the ones in the polytunnel are in full flower right now and not a bee in sight. The outside ones are only just budding so maybe they'll be more likely fruit candidates.
ReplyDeleteI've hand pollinated the indoor ones but I don't expect a decent yield like I would normally get.
Good luck with your trees Sue
Linda
Maybe being delayed will be of benefit then, Linda
DeleteEverything seems to be late this year, it's almost half of April and I have still some snow in the garden. What a crazy weather!
ReplyDeleteCrazy indeed Dewberry
DeleteLove your photos from last year and this,lets hope we have an Indian summer so some things have time to ripen before next winters frosts start !!!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be good wouldn't it, flowerlady to compensate for this abysmal start?
DeleteAll my fruit looks like it is still asleep! Even the raspberry mutant canes are slow to appear. Apples were a write-off last year because of late frost killing off the blossom, so I hope things are better this year :) Come on sun!!
ReplyDeleteCome on sun indeed, Frantic. Thanks for visiting and commenting - hope you come back!
DeleteI think your comparison pictures are great, thats one of the brilliant things about blogging is comparing year on year. Though this year has certainly been a one-off, I hope. Very cold. Lets hope it all catches up and the blossom may be late but less chance of further frost damage. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteIt is Annie, I'm often surprised looking back over photos - if only the digital camera had been invented earlier!
DeleteThe comparisons are always worth looking at from year to year, good job with yours. If you remember last year there was an early warm spell which tricked everything into a false sense of security. My fruit trees bore very little fruit but the fruit bushes and early Strawberries had a phenomenal amount of fruit on them despite the lack of sun and extra water from the sky.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Rooko and I am now hoping the reverse will be true. Lots of lovely weather and lovely fruit to follow!
DeleteExcellent set of comparison photos, definitely inspires me to try and be as organised .... maybe next year :}
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the sort of thing I say, Bilbo - maybe next year!
DeleteOh... hope the plants can catch up.
ReplyDeleteSo do I Diana
DeleteWe have very little blossom out at all though seeing a few buds now is giving me hope!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed more buds developing now Tanya so fingers crossed.
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