Quite a tropical year in the garden after a cool and misty start. So this year again the Asian Pears managed to set well and with extra irrigation August through September, gave us a reasonable crop. European Pears that set were fodder for Wasps and other insects through the dry July and August. Apples poor set as temperatures and damp weather kept insects from roaming and pollen from drying out to blow around. Apricots and Plums same fate, Cherries set well and were very sweet.
Everbearing Strawberries were just that, right up to November. Raspberries similar, with last ones picked for Chicken treats up to mid November.
We prune the main shoots of all fruiting trees at the beginning of August, wounds dry quickly and avoid infections. We do this most years to encourage lateral shoot growth, and keep potential fruit reachable from the ground. With the weather this year being prolonged warm weather into late October, this almost 12 wks of growing time has resulted in a doubling of expected extension growth. In the case of Halls Hardy Almond 3′ from spring summer, and 3′ since prune. Photo’s part of fall update.
