Plums growing too fast

Man......if it ain't one thing it's another. The plums on one of the trees have grown so fast, they are splitting wide open...... Not good at all - especially since I can't spray for the plum curculio bug now.....to do so would expose the edible part of the fruit to the agricultural pesticide I use called Imidan,  which I don't care to ingest.....Oh well, at least the other tree isn't experiencing the same problem.

First time for apples

The apple trees are in their 4th year now, I think - and will finally produce a crop, it appears. Nothing remarkable - maybe around 20 or so fruit in all. But hey - that's a big deal to me.......Anyway,  here's one of them forming.....

There will be peaches

I planted a couple of peach trees last year, and would you ever guess that they're producing fruit in their 2nd year? I sure wouldn't..... But, it's the truth. Oh well, I'll take anything I can get.

Fireblight on a pear tree

It shows up every year - usually on one tree, and only a single branch. However, this time it's on several branches of the same tree. The only problem is - it's the tree that actually had pollination occur, which means that the disease will need to be left for the entire year If I want any pears......

Man, a massive pruning will take place next February - unlike any that has been seen before on the property. Oh well......gotta do it.

Developing plums

The plums are plumping up nicely, and although there is evidence of bug damage - it doesn't appear to be from the plum curculio. Still, another spraying of Imidan will be applied in about a week - just to make sure they don't mess things up.....

Apple blossom

The apple trees are always the last to get in on the parade of showy early spring flowers in the orchard, and it would appear that there will be a few apples to enjoy this year, hopefully.  The trees are only about 4 years old, so quite young as far as producing anything significant yet. Anyway, the blossoms are gorgeous.....

Blueberries

They will be plentiful this year, and most will actually find their way into the freezer for later use. It's gonna be interesting, because there's never been a bumper crop like this one before on the property..... I can't wait. :)

Santa rosa plum

Here's my one tree in full bloom, and it should be loaded with fruit this year - weather permitting of course. The other tree is a different variety of which I can't remember it's name.

Anyway, I think they're really pretty while in bloom, and indicative of what's to come later.....

Blueberries

There's gonna be tons of them to harvest this year from the 3 bushes, and I imagine the freezer will see alot of them for later use.

Plum trees in full bloom

Well, it's definitely on now. Close inspection of the trees doesn't reveal any sign of the plum curculio so far, but that will surely change in just a matter of time.

Their presence will be both numerous and unwanted, of course.

Peach trees in bloom

February 25th is not the ideal time for this to be taking place. March 25th would be more preferred, but this winter has been far from what one would consider to be normal. The plum trees are getting in on the act too, and a liberal spraying with Imidan will happen in another week or so.

It's highly unlikely that the trees will produce anything this year, but it's good to be optimistic at times. Oh well, wish me luck!

Plum tree about to bloom

It's at least 2-3 weeks too early for fruit trees to begin blooming, but the weather this year has certainly been far from what one would consider to be normal so far.

It's not a good thing, but us backyard fruit growers have to take each season as it comes. With so much time remaining before the average last frost date for the area, it's most likely that a killing frost will ruin this year's peach and plum crop. 

Within a week, these little buds will be opened flowers......

Jeff

An answer to the Plum Curculio

If you have stone fruit trees (plum, peach), then you know exactly what the Plum Curculio bug is. It is a weevil that lays an egg on a maturing fruit, which in turn hatches into a larvae that bores into the fruit which completely ruins it. The tell-tale sign of damage is clear gel oozing from a tiny hole in the fruit.

Anyway, Sevin and Spectracide are completely useless against this pest, but thankfully there is something available that is downright deadly to it. Imidan wettable powder - although it can be a challenge to find at times.....

Anyway, I'm ready for the little devils this year, and just hope a late killing frost doesn't mess things up for me.

Jeff