Monday, May 3, 2021

Freezing Blossoms

 

Well, we had 80's in March, 70's in April and 60's in May, and 19 to 24 degree overnight now. The warm Spring weather encouraged all of our fruit trees to blossom, and our perennials to grow. So far since the perennials have come up and the fruit trees started blooming we have had dozens of hard freezes and several light frosts. It's so disappointing knowing how hard this is on the trees and vines and plants. Right now the plums are already dropping their blossoms as are a few of the pear trees, the peaches are just opening now and the apples and grapes are holding on tight to their buds. There have been a few wild strawberries bloom so far, but the rest of the berries are holding on as well. I've picked 22 small morel mushrooms already in the lawns near our back woods.

We have 30'. and  20's in the forecast for the next two weeks yet. Last year we lost a lot of fruit and grape buds to late spring frosts in May and June which limited our fruit harvests. Looks like we'll be in for this again.

So this spring I've mostly been doing cosmetic stuff on the property. Cutting up downed trees, picking up branches, pruning and weeding. A little dividing and moving and planting. 

Can't do too much until the weather clears up, but I have tomatoes in the greenhouse ..and  Basil. And lots of starts growing in the house waiting for the weather to stabililze. Hope you are having better weather than I am and don't lose everything to frosts.