Fruit Blossom at National Fruit Collection Brogdale

Merpet cherry

Following the exceptional developments of the past year, and a necessary break from recording in 2020, it’s good to be back in the orchards recording the blossom once again.  However, the weather this year hasn’t been too kind and, walking through, it was obvious the late frosts had taken their toll on the blossom.  The plum blossom, in particular, exhibited a high rate of frost damage, with the damage on some trees estimated at up to 80%.  Quite a number of cherry and pear varieties were touched by frost, too, though the apple and quince, blossoming later, appear largely to have escaped its effects.

A lower yield is the most likely outcome of the frosts this year but we will have to wait and see on the extent of this.  The stage the trees were at for bud development when the frosts hit will play a part and some trees may go on to produce a good crop even though their blossom appeared damaged.  However, this certainly won’t be the case for all varieties and a lighter crop is to be expected later in the year.  In the meantime, a walk through the orchards with the trees in blossom is highly recommended and something to be enjoyed for now.

Lorinda Jewsbury

18^th May 2021

2021

PLUM

Cambridge Gage:  11^th April (10% open); 13^th April (full flower); 27^th April (90% petal fall)

Czar:  8^th April (10% open); 11^th April (full flower); 23^rd April (90% petal fall)

Denniston’s Superb (Imperial Gage):  30^th March (10% open); 1^st April (full flower); 16^th April (90% petal fall)

Farleigh Damson:  4^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Marjorie’s Seedling:   13^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower); 26^th April (90% petal fall)

Oullins Gage:   6^th April (10% open); 8^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Pershore Yellow Egg:   4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 21^st April (90% petal fall)

Victoria:   4^th April (10% open); 7^th April (full flower); 17^th April (90% petal fall)

PEAR

Concorde:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Conference:   19^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Doyenne du Comice:  22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Louise Bonne of Jersey:  7^th April (10% open); 10^th April (full flower); 22^nd April (90% petal fall)

CHERRY

Early Rivers:  13^th April (10% open); 17^th April (full flower); 4^th May (90% petal fall)

Hertford: 18^th April (10% open); 22^nd April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Lapins:  13^th April (10% open); 16^th April (full flower); 2^nd May (90% petal fall)

Merchant: 22^nd April (10% open); 25^th April (full flower); 8^th May (90% petal fall)

Stella: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 13^th May (90% petal fall)

Sunburst: 26^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

APPLE

Blenheim Orange: 30th April (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Bramley’s Seedling: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Cox’s Orange Pippin: 30th April (10% open); 6^th May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Crawley Beauty:

Discovery: 29^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Egremont Russet: 25^th April (10% open); 28^th April (full flower); 11^th May (90% petal fall)

Falstaff: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 17^th May (90% petal fall)

Feuillemorte:

Fiesta/Red Pippin: 1^st May (10% open); 7^th May (full flower);

Gala: 30^th April (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

James Grieve: 28^th April (10% open); 1^st May (full flower); 16^th May (90% petal fall)

Jonagold: 30^th April (10% open); 4^th May (full flower); 14^th May (90% petal fall)

Meridian: 27^th April (10% open); 30^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

Red Astrachan: 17^th April (10% open); 20^th April (full flower); 10^th May (90% petal fall)

St. Edmund’s Pippin: 24^th April (10% open); 27^th April (full flower); 7^th May (90% petal fall)

Worcester Pearmain: 7^th May (10% open); 10^th May (full flower);

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