It’s fair to say that it’s been a weird gardening year here in Central Massachusetts. A late frost took out the cherry and peach blossoms but missed the apple blossoms by a day or two. Last year we had a spring and summer near drought that kept the apples from being very successful, and the grapes just this side of piteous.
By contrast, although we lack our cherries and peaches, the apples and grapes promise to outproduce any year since the plants were planted. Even the semi-wild New England Spy apple, which seems to be a volunteer plant from the ancient orchard that once stood near here, is heavy with fruit. For those unfamiliar with apples, after the fruit starts forming, but before they grow large, you get a phenomenon called around here, June drops; the tree sheds fruit that won’t develop properly. This year we had very few June drops, and the apples and the grapes vines are very heavy with fruit.
Of course, there is July and lots of August to go before things are ready for harvest. But the prospects are good for canning applesauce, grape jelly, and plenty of fresh fruit to eat and share.
There is truth in not counting chicks until they hatch, or predicting harvests in June. But it is so tempting.
It sounds like a wonderful garden! I only hope the squirrels and raccoons will leave us something from our garden!
Around here the dog keeps after the squirrels, but the chipmunks are a real problem.
I’m envious, Lou. I wasn’t able to grow a single veg last year.
“the prospects are good” is probably the most that New Englanders ever dared say of plantings and fruitings, but especially with what certainly seems a changing climate. Fingers crossed for your great harvestings!