Kitchen Garden Forum

The new bees in my garden have managed to get through the winter and are building up in numbers well. The men who own the hive say there is already lots of pollen and brood cells, so fingers crossed they will have a good year. There are also a large number of various kinds of bumble bees and mason bees. They don't have far to go for the pollen.
I've noticed the bumblebees foraging even when it is quite cold, but the hive bees only come out when it is warmer.

The plums have set lots of fruit, the cherry trees are covered in blossom, there isn't quite as much pear blossom as last year, and the apple blossom is just opening and looks beautiful. I've also noticed several baby peaches set and a few buds still to open.

alain refail. Criky, next year or the year after. And there's me kicking the door of my 80th : summer.

ADAS are hopeful for this year's crop.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22575545

The Malus transitoria, cut leaf Crab Apple, has an amazing amount of blossom about to show.

Clive.

No spectacular blossom down here (well on lottie) - only surprise is my red fleshed apple at home which I moved this year as thought it was unhappy. Has grown about 2 foot and just starting to flower. Obviously more pollinators around which is good, but will that mean little fruit as quite late?

It is 3 years old but with stress of moving will obviously set it back - got nothing last year so hopeful - regardless of size!

Westi

The tiny Enlli has lived up to the promise of its blossom

viewtopic.php?p=111105#p111105

and I have picked about 100 fruit. In the past it has produced anywhere between 0 and 6 fruits. Very happy

Afternoon Alan, now that is good news, no wonder you are pleased, as that's a lot of apples for a small tree.

Branches bent but none broke>

That sounds like my back today...

OH!

My apple trees on lottie are heaving with fruit but not quite ripe (although have had a couple - as very close 2 ripe). I have 2 eaters; a russet & a red one both French names but forgotton! Plum is laden again most just starting to ripen fully but lots eaten already. (Not Beauty not one fruit!) I even have pears this year - had bad scab (or something) so trimmed it back getting rid of the big cracked branches. Those branches not too cracked smothered in Vaseline, (don't know why just thought would keep virus & fungus out) & it was somewhat successful as black spots just on skin & grown to full size this year, all new branches have clean fruit on them but will take some bottle to climb the ladder to reach them!

Is it to do with last years rain then or just the cycle of fruit trees?

Westi

Quite happy with my apples this year. Very little on the Lanes Prince Albert I posted the photo of but have Bramley, Blenheim Orange and Granny Smith to follow on from the Discovery and Epicure pictured below. Also have quite a few on our young pears, Concorde and Black Worcester as well as the William in the picture.

We have set up a little display of 17 of our Pear varieties at work. I am just printing photos of the 4 varieties that are missing of the 21 this year. Bristol Cross and Onward; young trees yet to fruit. Catillac; died during late Summer. Santa Claus; no fruit this year.

Picked all the "Queen" cooking Apples this morning and continued to collect up Apples as they come ready for Apple day.

Then back to some lawn scarifying...this Friday it did rain...pouring down now.


Clive.

Clive - they look fab! I was punch proud of my crop this year but they are rubbish compared to your beauties.

Westi