May Update

Usually at this point in May we have the maximum flowers open on our apples – ‘full bloom’. As it is, a few flowers are actually opening on the earliest blooming varieties like Ribston Pippin, White Transparent and Egremont Russet. The warm weather of recent afternoons will help with successful pollination. There are 25 beehives here, and plenty of bumble bees. Cherry blossom and that of plum is mid way. Here we have seen regular night frosts recently. A change to more unsettled weather would reduce the risk to young fruitlets. Cherries are vulnerable to cool winds at this time. There has been little risk of Apple Scab infection to date as since the buds began breaking little rain has fallen.

Our oldest tractor is now back from an engine rebuild and is employed on chopping prunings along the rows.This equipment doubles up as a grass mower during summer.

This week the tomato plants will be planted in the Dutch Light Structure (some three weeks later than usual). Round French Beans are already establishing . As with the outside crops, it looks like a late start to be actually picking anything. The weather during the rest of this month will have considerable influence on that.

Remember this time in 2012? – almost the opposite!

One of the orchard’s honey bee’s pollinating a plum flower.