At the moment, the answer would seem – ‘enough’.
May saw a rapid recoovery in temperatures both during the day and, unusually, during most nights too. The chilly and wet end to April will have delayed the pollinating insect population from establishing, not that we rely on them, but look on the pollinating period as a time when insects of all types , including bees, can bee seen and heard during the day, foraging and transporting.
Trees blossoming on the 30th April are showing very few apples indeed as the wind chill was detrimental to insects and devastating to pollen tube growth. Some trees sheltered immediately inside a northern hedge have set well while a few trees further down the row are empty where the shelter from cold was less. Corners bounded by hedges or human habitation have set well – my theory is that our resident Bumble bee population have been working close to their nests.
The June drop has begun early this year and will be particularly useful with Discovery, Worcester Pearmain, Spartan and Tydeman’s Late Orange.
Orleans Reinette and Kidd’s Orange Red look good. A hopeful eye is being kept on our Ribston Pippin and D’arcy Spice. Cox are grown here on four different rootstocks on a wide range of aged tree. They are visible and very scattered – but they are there!
Cooking apples generally are looking light. No Suntan or Blenheim Orange in quantity to be expected.
Our variety ‘collection’ seem to be showing a good range.
Victoria plums are now dropping, fortuneately. Few gages to be seen.
Weather wise some occassional rain would not be amiss. A repeat of the scorching sun of the last two Julys will not be welcomed. Last season many fruit were spoiled by two particularly hot days during mid July. Discovery and Worcester Pearmain which we noticed at picking but also Cox which displayed similar skin softness on the exposed cheek some weeks after picking.
Enough is enough. ‘Bumper’ crops have their own downside.
