Last month I published a blog with a picture of apricot blossom - I can now happily report that the tree is totally covered in tiny fruits about the size of a small broad bean. Assuming no more frosts - which should be the case now, last year's late and disastrous frost was in the second week of April - we will have to think about thinning the fruit as it develops. In 2003, we didn't do that, and a large chunk of tree got over-loaded with fruit and broke off. It was a waste of fruit and damaged the tree.
Since then the peach has been covered in blossom, and this morning I lost count of small set fruits at about 40 on the one branch. As the peach tree isn't very big, I will also have to keep an eye and thin fruit if necessary. Fortunately Rob the Pig Man reckons that his free range pigs will be very grateful for any fruit thinnings. It could be necessary with the pear as well.
The final two trees to break into blossom are the quince and the medlar. Quince blossom should be at its height in a few days time, while the medlar could be a little bit later. I don't want to second guess the medlar - it is the first year we will have blossom on it - but to my mind the quince is the prettiest of all fruit blossom.
Until I can get a photo of the quince, you will have to make do with peach blossom!
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