After the cherry blight this spring due to cooler than normal temps and less sun than normal I am thrilled that some of my other garden friends were not wiped out -- the peaches and plums are not gonna put off bumper crops like my all my berry varieties did, yet, I am just grateful to get some of these sweet peachy and plummy gems to enjoy fresh this season.
This saturn peach (above) is only three years old and really struggled this last winter and spring as it's been a very cold year, however, it is putting off a few fruits for a young tree that was stressed. I've had to cut back a lot of dead branches, sadly. If the weather continues to be more chilly than warm I will cover it. I've been adding a lot of rocks this summer and more plantings in the fruit grove to try and change the micro-zone a bit, we shall see.
This is a plum from a 100 year old tree that usually puts off a bumper crop yearly. I've been aware that it's age would start to play in the production, especially with this crazy weather and here we are... a hand full of fruits and a heavy heart for a tree friend that has been good to me and those that came before me. I'm putting in new fruit trees every year but I just love these oldies with the beautiful patina of age on the bark and twisted gnarly branches.
This is my other elderly plum and she is still doing well -- this one puts out most of her fruit way up high so I need to get the orchard ladder to pick her sweet fruits but all is still good with her as it looks like a solid crop this year.
I try and plant as many dwarf fruit and nuts trees as possible as it's just easier but all my mature trees are the heirloom varieties of large type.
I hope you have some fresh fruit today. <3
