Early signs

In the fruit growing world the first ‘reliable’ indications of a possible apple  crop can be assessed on Derby Day at the beginning of June. There are some similarities between horse racing and fruit growing. Both require the ground to have a little ‘give’ in it, quite apart from having good nerves.

For many weeks sensible rainfall has skirted us by, indeed, since the muddy June of last year, apart from the middle of November 2016 , our usual pattern of any precipitation has failed, to be broken in style overnight 16th/17th May.

Some apples and plums are becoming visible amonst the new leaves but it is early days yet to make predictions.

At least, for the moment, we aren’t counting the occassional raindrop!