Early Spring looked very promising, all our trees were covered in flowers, and it looked as if we were in for a bumper crop.
Now, however, the truth has become plain to see; there's hardly any fruit on the trees at all.
Some trees never fail, our Bramley usually has quite a good crop, as does the wretched Quince. No doubt all our Fig trees will over perform as usual, but it's the Apples, Pears, Plums, and Peaches that we really need, and there are hardly any.
Wiser and more philosophical gardeners than myself would simply shrug their shoulders and say 'there's always next year', but I'm more the type to shout, feel cheated, and become pissed off.
Our Spring started early then became wet and windy, exactly what fruit trees don't like. We are now paying the price.
Above was just a tiny part of last year's crop; no such bounty this year I fear.
I'm sorry, Cro. Having to wait a whole year for a chance at a better harvest is a bitter pill to swallow.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a long time to wait; especially after all the anticipation.
DeleteI don't know much about fruit trees so I'm guessing; is it, besides the wet weather, that there are also not many bees to polinate the trees?
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
I'm sure that's what it was. It all looked wonderful, but if there hasn't been any pollination the tiny fruits just fall off.
DeleteLast years crop look absolutely beautiful, so I can imagine how upsetting it must be for you to know it won't be the same this year. A shortage of Lady M's crumbles and pies doesn't bear thinking about.
ReplyDeleteOur store cupboard in Autumn usually looks very comforting; this year it won't. Luckily there are a few Bramleys, so Lady M's crumbles should be around until Christmas.
DeleteIt's a hard bloody life.
ReplyDeleteYou're supposed to be in limbo.
DeletePurgatory.
DeleteYou made me think and realise that the last time I had fruit off a family tree was when my grandparents had them and I was knee high to a grasshopper.
ReplyDeleteOther that when I lived in central London, I don't think I've ever been without a decent orchard. Amongst my earliest memories is sitting amongst the branches of a huge Cherry tree, and gorging myself.
DeleteOh dear Cro, I do hope it isn't the shape of things to come here in the UK. We have never seen as much blossom as this year (still flowering as I write)- so we too live in hopes.
ReplyDeleteEverything here flowered far too early. I think that was part of the problem.
DeleteSad if there are hardly any crops this year. The sheer anticipation as the tiny buds of apples and pears start to appear! I loved my fruit trees and miss them now, no trees in this garden but perhaps next year. The joy of putting the 'Reverend Wilkes' and 'Annie Elizabeth' near to each other, or buying the foreigner 'Orlean Reinette' beautiful looking apple, or the Russian 'White Transparent' the first to appear in July - all gone...
ReplyDeletePlenty of flowers, plenty of young buds, even plenty of small fruits; then nothing, everything dropped off.
DeleteWonderful blossom this year. Apples can be rain pollinated, but the fruit is less even than that visited by bees. However if it rains when the flowers are out the bees wont be out to pollinate. Our apples are looking pretty good but the plums are a disaster hardly any fruit after gorgeous blossom and the cherries are falling off before swelling and ripening. Almost makes you want to go to Tescos for your fruit !
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what happened to our Cherries. They looked good, then swelled a bit, then fell off. Luckily we have neighbours with loads of Cherries.
DeleteWe have no control over what weather Spring deals us, but that will determine whether we have fruit on the trees or not. Makes me better appreciate how dependent our ancestors were upon nature for their survival.
ReplyDeleteWe do still have 'a bit of everything', but nothing will go to waste this year (except the wretched Quinces).
DeleteHave you all ever before had such a fruit tree summer phenomenon? It's interesting what you write about other fruit trees not too far away having produced their crops.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes.
I think all fruit trees 'rest' occasionally, but this year's failure is due to weather. Spring was too early, and then it became wet and windy. We will have some fruit but nothing like our usual crop. C'est la vie!
DeleteDisappointing isn't it. We've got a few cherries but they aren't very sweet. Most of the young plums have dropped too.
ReplyDeleteI have a yellow Cherry, that is very late ripening, which has a good crop. I think it's because it was much later flowering.
DeleteIt will be a hard year for the farmers who depend on the crops for their livelihoods.
ReplyDeleteThis is quite a big Plum growing area, but I don't know if they're affected or not.
DeleteIt was the same here with a very early warm spring. I think everything flowered befor the pollinators came out in full, then high winds and rain destroyed any hope for a good crop. I have one Apple that is planted next to a winter flowering honeysuckle and it still has fruit.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had exactly our conditions; I now look forward to 2017.
DeleteI have a few apples that have really late/hardy blossom so it gives me an extra chance of a few apples in a bad year. Have a look for American Mother, ment to be a good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Kev; I'll certainly have a look.
DeleteThis is our first real summer with our fruit trees on The Poor Farm. A few apples, some wild plums, one juvenile pear. Added four grape vines. It will take a bit before we have anything to speak of. Hope springs eternal, too bad fruit doesn't.
ReplyDeleteI noticed a few Plums yesterday, but only enough for a couple of pies.
DeleteWhile waiting for two beautiful peaches to ripen to perfection, a deer made off with them. We found her in the goldfish pond today eating the pads off the waterlilies.
ReplyDeleteI once found a Deer sleeping under my Broccoli plants; she soon shot off. I now have my veg garden fenced.
DeleteWe had a bumper crop of apples and a friend's ancient pear tree was bursting with fruit last year.
ReplyDeleteOur winter was mild (for here) but our spring has been cold. Blossom drop for apples occurred about 10 days ago, so still too early to tell. There were lots of blossoms on the old apple tree and some on the new one, so I'm hopeful for the moment.
I don't like to say this, but we were very hopeful too. It was only a couple of months later that we saw what's what. I wish you luck.
DeleteThanks. There are many apple trees growing along roads here, so if we have a not so stellar year, I may be resigned to go scrumping.
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