THE STOP-START SPRING

Hello - what a strange spring this is turning out to be. April seemed to give promise of a really warm spring - but so far May has turned that completely on it's head!

Freezing cold North-east winds - and several nights of frost this week have tested some of the new growth and all the fruit blossom that is about at the moment. Like many other gardeners- it has been out with the fleece on several nights this week - trying to protect the new soft growth. At the moment - it does not seem to have done any serious damage - but time will tell on the fruit blossom - it can affect the small fruitlets - and I expect that the plums and the pears will show some damage in a month's time. This can vary from fruitlet drop - to cracking on the skin - but again - only time will tell.

The good news is that the forecast says that it will warm up over the weekend - so that should remove the threat of frost.

Staying with fruit blossom - I do think that in 18 years in this industry I have never seen a better crop of APPLE BLOSSOM. The trees are laden with bloom - and it would seem to be of very good quality too - very large flowers - which should lead to a decent fruit set. I think this is due to weather patterns - last year's summer was excellent for setting flower buds - a little bit of dryness at the root often causes plants to produce more flowers than growth - and certainly in Suffolk last July and August when the flower buds were formed was like a desert!! Then came the cold winter - fruit trees need a period of cold to fully iniate their buds - this is called VERNALISATION. It is still not fully understood - but if they do not receive a period of cold their flowers do not iniate properly.

It always reminds me of the time when I used to work on a commercial fruit farm - and we used to open the orchards for Blossom Walks - with a small donation to charity - they were alwaya very popular. Apple Blossom is one of the highlights of spring for me - and unlike the Flowering Cherries - you know that you are going to get a bounty of fruit in 5 or 6 months time!!

I have noticed on the apple trees this week - that in amongst the blossom - PRIMARY MILDEW is starting to appear. We have all seen this before -the powdery silvery deposit on leaves. It can be very devastating - and the leaves that have it at the moment - are those that were affected last autumn - and the fungus has overwintered on the buds. It must be removed as soon as it is seen - otherwise it will spread to the new growth. Cut it off - bin it or burn it and don't forget to DISINFECT your secateurs before changing trees - otherwise you will pass it on!!!
We call it primary mildew - because it is the first of the year - and will become SECONDARY MILDEW once it reaches the new growth - and is harder to control.

It is also the time to hang PHEROMONE TRAPS for Plum Maggot Moth in your plum and greengage trees. These really do work - and are a very effective organic and non-chemical way of stopping maggots in your plums - there is one for Apple Codling Moth - but that will not be put out until after petal fall.

Otherwise here at the nursery, it has been another busy old week. Much activity on the propagation front - the girls taking cuttings of many shrubs and perennials - whilst the growth is soft and strong. If you stand still long enough at the moment - it seem as though someone will be round you with a pair of secateurs for a cutting - so visitors watch out!!

For my own part - Operation S.S is well and truly launched. No - this is not some top-secret military battle - although it could be viewed in that way- it is the plans for the SUFFOLK SHOW. Plant allocation is underway - it is always something I enjoy - pulling together plants from all the different sales area for our stand - hopefully showing the best of what we do here at the nursery.

With the show only a fortnight away - (2nd and 3rd June) - trying to work out what will actually be in flower is as difficult as ever. Interestingly though - several items that we would not usually expect to be out in flower look as though they will be - due to the cold weather at the moment that has delayed them. If it turns hot next week though - that will all go out of the window - so we shall just have to see!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD