Climate change has brought forward the blossom-time of our fruit trees. Plum, cherry and pear appear first followed later by the apple blossom. It is a somewhat nervous time for the fruit grower because a late frost can severely reduce (or eliminate) your crop.
Flowers have opened on the Concorde Pear Tree ...
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| Photo 1: Concorde Pear Flowers |
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| Photo 2: Concorde Pear Espalier Tree (31st March 2025) |
The first flowers to open are on the left hand side of the tree (as you look at it) which receives the sunn a little earlier.
Unfortunately, my Doyenne du Comice pear tree has finally given up the ghost after a number of under performing years (Photo 3). It is doubly unfortunate because it was the pollination partner of the Concorde pear tree. Although the Concorde is self-fertile, the fruit quality and yield is better with a co-pollinator.
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| Photo 3: Comice Pear Tree (deceased, RIP) |
The three plum trees (Cox's Emperor, Jubilee and Groves Late Victoria) were planted in 2018. Flowers appeared for the first time last year, largely down to my incorrect pruning technique. After summer pruning in 2023, flowers did finally appear in 2024, albeit not in great numbers and there was no fruit. The number of flowers has increased ten-fold and all three trees have flowered. Fingers crossed that I will get to taste at least one fruit this year!
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| Photo 3: Plum Tree Blossom |
Our small cherry tree (Stella) is also in blossom. In a good year we get a kilogram of cherries provided we get to the fruits before the birds do (yes, I am looking at you blackbirds!). The tree was planted in a root bag to restrict its growth - I always wonder how productive it would have been if we had not restricted it.
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| Photo 4: Stella Cherry (3rd April 2025) |
The apple blossom will appear later in the month. At the moment the flower buds are tight and a week or two from opening ...
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| Photo 5: Golden Delicious Apple Buds (3rd April 2025) |
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| Photo 6: Rev W Wilks Apple Buds (3rd April 2025) |
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| Photo 7: Red Windsor Apple Buds (3rd April 2025) |
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