Rg, we collected our first apples for the season. Not quite to plan though. The tree is a 5 year old Ballarat, that has been relocated twice due to our relocating ourselves, and the second time to give it a respectable, long-term home. A wee while ago I noticed the crop was heavy and a branch needed support. The support didn't eventuate so the branch said b….r you and broke. The apples are a month early but with a wee sweetening are yummy - cooked i.e.
That is early for Ballarat, Fred but at least you'll have beaten the birds to it. The apples in the photo were sitting on the ground beneath the tiny tree (newly planted) having ripened then freed themselves from their perches with only 40cm of travel in front of (or below) them. They were labled "Golden Winter Pearmain" but that's going to need some further work :-) I have Belle de Boskoop branches bent way down by the weight of a great crop, so I'll keep a closer eye on them, after hearing your tale of woe.
A simple yoke is a thought, Rg. But do it before you think its needed!! Happy harvesting. The name Golden Winter Pearmain rings - rather distantly - a wee bell. My paternal grandparents had a well stocked orchard with varieties of many fruits. Some of those varieties are now referred to as "heirloom"!! I guess they are, but back then they were 'mainstream'.
And with a little luck, they'll be mainstream again, Fred. We've sent out around 4000 into Southland since we started grafting and selling at our August sale. I'll try a yoke of some sort and I'll do it straight-away. I learned long ago to strike while the iron is hot.
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Rg, we collected our first apples for the season.
Not quite to plan though. The tree is a 5 year old Ballarat,
that has been relocated twice due to our relocating ourselves,
and the second time to give it a respectable, long-term home.
A wee while ago I noticed the crop was heavy and a branch needed support.
The support didn't eventuate so the branch said b….r you and broke.
The apples are a month early but with a wee sweetening are yummy - cooked i.e.
That is early for Ballarat, Fred but at least you'll have beaten the birds to it. The apples in the photo were sitting on the ground beneath the tiny tree (newly planted) having ripened then freed themselves from their perches with only 40cm of travel in front of (or below) them. They were labled "Golden Winter Pearmain" but that's going to need some further work :-)
I have Belle de Boskoop branches bent way down by the weight of a great crop, so I'll keep a closer eye on them, after hearing your tale of woe.
A simple yoke is a thought, Rg. But do it before you think its needed!!
Happy harvesting.
The name Golden Winter Pearmain rings - rather distantly - a wee bell.
My paternal grandparents had a well stocked orchard with varieties of many fruits.
Some of those varieties are now referred to as "heirloom"!!
I guess they are, but back then they were 'mainstream'.
And with a little luck, they'll be mainstream again, Fred. We've sent out around 4000 into Southland since we started grafting and selling at our August sale.
I'll try a yoke of some sort and I'll do it straight-away. I learned long ago to strike while the iron is hot.
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