According to German folklore there is always a danger of frost until the “Iceman Days” have passed. The “Iceman Days” are May 11th, 12th and 13th and even though the temperatures did become somewhat cooler during those three days we were spared any real cold temperatures. Now as we wrap up the last days of this month of May, we’re feeling good about the orchard overall. The temperatures are warm and steady and rainfall has been adequate. Our main concern at this point is serious wind storms and hail of which we need neither. Hail is the orchardists” nemesis.
Condition of the apples look good at this point. The warm spring with early bloom and no weather set backs from Mother Nature will make harvest at least ten days earlier than normal. The fruit is still in “cell division.”
Apple fruits grow first by cell division and cell division begins during fruit set (bloom) and lasts for approximately 35-45 days after pollination. This is a critical time for the growth of the apples. The size of an apple is determined by its cell make up. The number of cells, the size of each cell and the air space between the cells are factors that determine fruit size. An average size apple has approximately 50 million cells. Warm sunny weather in early spring help to increase fruit size by providing conditions that increase the cell size of the fruit. Cell size is affected not only by mild temperatures but also proper pruning which allows good penetration of sunlight. The genetics of the cultivar also plays a major role in its size. A crab apple will always be small and a Honeycrisp or Mutsu will be larger. A grower can’t change the genetics of the cultivar. It is what it is.
For those who wonder about the availability of peaches this season, the answer is yes, there will be peaches. The peaches are not in the baskets yet, but so far so good. Quite a few challenges to overcome before the fruit can be harvested but basically, things look promising in the peach orchard.
Sunlight + Moisture + Warm Temperatures = WEEDS. No escaping it, weeds are prolific and we have our share of weeds with which to contend. Thanks to a new weed eater as a birthday gift, we’ll be out tomorrow tackling weeds, grasses and invasive vines with lots of gusto as we limit the use of herbicides in the orchards. The season is underway.