I may not do as effective job of pollinating as a bee would but I am doing my best.
This year the Flavourcot apricot that now lives in our garden greenhouse has kept me very busy. Last year it had only a few flowers but this year it has lots.
I think you are right about the lack of sunshine affecting flavour. Last year lots of my crops were nondescript, and I feel they would have done better if they had had more sun. You are artificially replicating the work of the bees with your cottonbuds, so now maybe you can artificially replicate some sunshine! Solar reflectors might be worth investigating...
Last year my apples were so bland and tiny too, although they ripened a full month earlier. Odd behaviour and I think it is something we can look forward to and learn to adjust. I'd say the paint brush would be better than the cotton bud for mimicking a bee.
I admire your efforts Sue and hope your trees will do well this season. It's a good sign that your apricot has many more flowers this year...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Fruit tree flowers are so beautiful. I just planted some new trees last year and I'm fairly sure that I should be taking off any immature fruits this year so that the tree sends more energy into developing a good root system. That will be one difficult task.
The apricot blossom is glorious, I don't think I've ever seen it before. Let's hope the brush and bud do their job. My peach is outside. It was thinking about opening a week or two ago, but it's holding itself in now it's gone a bit chilly. Hopefully some warm spring sunshine soon.
Bee-utiful. With all that blossom you stand a good chance of getting an even larger crop this year. Good luck. It would be so nice to get a decent summer too wouldn't it.
I don't know if you have it there but I use a product called Tanglefoot. I spread it on the trunk of the tree to keep slugs, ants, etc from crawling up. I hope your pollinating takes!
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I think you are right about the lack of sunshine affecting flavour. Last year lots of my crops were nondescript, and I feel they would have done better if they had had more sun. You are artificially replicating the work of the bees with your cottonbuds, so now maybe you can artificially replicate some sunshine! Solar reflectors might be worth investigating...
ReplyDeleteI think I much prefer a biome Mark one covering the garden and another one covering the plot maybe then we can replicate a perfect climate.
DeleteLast year my apples were so bland and tiny too, although they ripened a full month earlier. Odd behaviour and I think it is something we can look forward to and learn to adjust.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the paint brush would be better than the cotton bud for mimicking a bee.
I'm using both, Deborah to increase my chances :-)
DeleteI am sure your efforts will be rewarded Sue. Surely we can't have 2 rotten summers on the bounce.
ReplyDeleteWho knows, Angie? Let's just hope not.
DeleteI admire your efforts Sue and hope your trees will do well this season. It's a good sign that your apricot has many more flowers this year...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee maybe toes crossed as well :-)
DeleteFruit tree flowers are so beautiful. I just planted some new trees last year and I'm fairly sure that I should be taking off any immature fruits this year so that the tree sends more energy into developing a good root system. That will be one difficult task.
ReplyDeleteWe always find it very difficult to remove any prospective fruit, Margaret. In fact so difficult that we surely do it
DeleteThe apricot blossom is glorious, I don't think I've ever seen it before. Let's hope the brush and bud do their job. My peach is outside. It was thinking about opening a week or two ago, but it's holding itself in now it's gone a bit chilly. Hopefully some warm spring sunshine soon.
ReplyDeleteDo you protect it from peach leaf curl, CJ?
DeleteBee-utiful. With all that blossom you stand a good chance of getting an even larger crop this year. Good luck. It would be so nice to get a decent summer too wouldn't it.
ReplyDeleteIt would be extremely nice, Jessica
DeleteI love apricots. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bonnie.
DeleteBeautiful Blossom! That's really a hard work! Hope you're awarded with a lot of fruits Sue!
ReplyDeleteNot that had, Malar just a few minutes a day
DeleteI agree with the lack of sunshine affecting the flavour. Wishing you lots of luck for this season xx
ReplyDeleteLet 's hope for a bit more sunshine this summer, Jo
DeleteI can imagine you buzzing about like a bee Sue and humming as you go about your work. Are the flowers on these trees appearing earlier this year?
ReplyDeleteAbout he same, Anna.
DeleteThe blossom is so pretty, does it have a scent?
ReplyDeleteOne year I had some early bulbs flowering in the greenhouse and the smell was surprisingly strong, it was a lovely bonus of growing them under cover.
The apricoy has a faint scent if you stick your nose very close
DeleteOh good luck with the pollinating! You seem to be doing a grand job. Here's to plenty of fruit and sunshine!xxx
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice, Dina.
DeleteI don't know if you have it there but I use a product called Tanglefoot. I spread it on the trunk of the tree to keep slugs, ants, etc from crawling up. I hope your pollinating takes!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Tanglefoot, Dave. I'll look it up.
DeleteGood luck Sue, you busy bee!
ReplyDeleteWill watch with interest and see how you get on.