General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHope Springs Eternal - Even Now
With all the horrors going on right now, I was shocked and surprised when I mowed the back yard today. I glanced at our seven-year-old apple tree, which had never bloomed until this year. What I saw were dozens of tiny apples, just beginning to swell in the flower clusters. For the first time since we planted that tree, we have the hope of eating actual Honeycrisp apples from our own backyard tree this year. I will keep my fingers crossed.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,693 posts)unless you plan on spraying (Yuck! Ptui!). I have a Honeycrisp and a Honeygold, and in those years when I can get around to bagging the apples in June I get a great crop in October. If I don't do it the apple maggots ruin them and nobody can eat them but the birds and the squirrels.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)down to the healthiest looking apple and zip lock each one. I'm determined to eat my own apples this year!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,693 posts)It means getting up on a ladder, which doesn't thrill me much. I've had my trees for awhile and they are pretty big - I can't get to all of the apples but I should be able to save quite a few. There were a lot of blossoms this year. I've also got a cherry tree, and in the past I've been able to beat the birds to enough of the cherries to make jam, but last year they were infested with the latest invasive insect pest, spotted-wing drosophila. So I guess the birds and the bugs will win this year.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)all of the clusters without a ladder, so it'll be easy.
Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,620 posts)MineralMan
(146,308 posts)It's a long time until October. Maybe I can manage to keep on to eat on election day!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,620 posts)Maybe even enough for a pie. If they're good for pies, anyway.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)I have a neighbor with a tree of Granny Smith apples. He doesn't consume any of them, and is happy to have me pick as many as I want. So, there are my pie apples.