I was doing a quick assessment of how the fruit has done in the garden this year. It has been dreadful and I’m just hoping that having had to put so little effort into fruiting this year they are all set up for a fantastic performance next year!
- Apples – none, not a single solitary one – we just didn’t have the right conditions for fruit to set.
- Apricots – none, good fruit set but then the weather was so bad that the fruit rotted before it could ripen.
- Strawberries – a handful, the rest were eaten by slugs or went mildewy in the rain.
- Raspberries – none so far and entirely my fault – I had propped up a coldframe cover next to them and it blew over in a gale and squashed the plants. There is reason for some optimism though as they have recovered and are setting fruit which may ripen if the weather gods take pity on me.
- Quince – very few fruit set this year – may get ten or so.
- Mulberries – there are some ripening, but the blackbirds and thrushes have discovered them – and who can blame them.
- Figs – Two trees no figs, one tree about twenty.
- Cultivated blackberries – reasonable crop, but tending to go mildewy.
- Grapes – very poor sparse bunches, really rather pathetic, particularly when compared to previous grape crops.
Oh,no! But much the same on Bembrook allotments inc mine I fear.
We have a few apples – a very few. After storing immediate eating and cooking needs there won’t be enough left for even a gallon of cider – from nearly thirty mature trees
For the first year in 30 not a single plum
5 pears
We had about 20 cherries
No apricots
No peaches
No grapes
Birds are at the unripe mulberries here too – 20 miles north of Dublin
Good summer raspberries and the autumn raspberries are looking very good despite their feet being under water at the moment
Poor blackcurrants
Poor red and white currant – mea culpa, didn’t net them
Will need to fight wildlife for blackberry crop
Worryingly few haws or rose hips – don’t know what the birds will do for food this winter – and I’m sure bird feed will double in price soon because of harvest meaning those on marginal incomes won’t put it out
Thanks for your updates – I’m glad it’s not just my garden that is not up to much.