We had very good pollination for both the apples and the raspberries – cherry crop is very light.
Many of the apples are now 3/4 of an inch in diameter or more – the smaller ones will drop off in the June drop.
Raspberries will be ripe in July 7 to 11’th range – we will know more first week in July.
Put us on your July schedule – raspberry season only lasts three weeks.
Big changes over the last two weeks – we are now at full bloom. Yesterday and the day before were warm and sunny and the bees were out in force – a large number of small native pollinators and lots of bumble bees. Lots of fruit buds this year and no frost in the forecast.
Looks like more good weather next week – the rain this weekend is actually needed. Raspberries are growing well but not yet in bloom.
Look for the bumble bee.
Spring has finally put in an appearance. Last week the first fruit buds began to open and show little green tips. The warm weather has accelerated the growth and the fruit buds are now open with 1/2 inch green leaves.
There are plenty of fruit buds – no frost is predicted – bloom will probably come week after next. The pruning finally was completed and all the brush picked up and fed thru the chipper.
So we are started growing our 17’th crop – stay tuned for more developments. Picture shows fruit buds opening on one of the old McIntosh trees.
We took advantage of the beautiful weather for the last two weeks of October to do a lot of mowing, take down all our orchard signs, clean up flower beds, put away all the harvest stuff in the barn and put the equipment back in, fix the broken wagons, etc. etc.
We have had more Facebook messages/comments than I am able to respond to – thank you all for sending them.
We did manage to get away for a short vacation to Maine last week – just after the storm and had great weather – wind created some really big surf.
There appear to be a good number of fruit buds on the trees, so the first of many steps is in place for next years crop – stay tuned.
