Monday, July 24, 2017

apple tree lookin' good

Outside with Dolly the other day I suddenly realized the apple tree is loaded; I went over to it with some trepidation because, once more, we never sprayed it.

We really want to do right by that tree and those apples, doing whatever we should to promote healthy fruit, but...at the time of year when it's right for spraying, you are supposed to do it on a windless day. Well, on my days off, there weren't any. Then I end up feeling paralyzed by the situation and resign myself to another inedible crop.


So, what happened this year?  Is it just a matter of plenty of water - we are so over that drought of the last few years. Is that all the apples needed? It's only July, so I won't count my apples before they're ripened, but it really looks hopeful this time.

6 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous apple tree! It's picture perfect.♥

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    1. I hope the apples will be good inside - outside they're pretty normal looking. Apple trees have a lovely shape, the way they spread out.

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  2. I'm thinking.... delicious, juicy apple pie!
    Hope you get a good crop!
    Yiota

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    1. Yiota! I think of you when I look at the little crocheted placemat on my desk. :)

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  3. I love our apple trees. They look laden, like yours. We're meant to knock a few off each group, to improve the remaining ones, but I never have the heart or time. Can't say I've ever sprayed them. What does it do? We do prune twice a year, otherwise they would be unwieldy. I've started to collect windfalls to make apple jelly.

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    1. Cheryl, the reason we think we should spray it, it because the apples often are misshapen, and usually inside there are streaks of I-don't-know-what, but suppose it isn't good. So, if we tried to prevent pests or funguses, we might get normal apples! I assume you don't have this issue. :) It may be partly that it's not in full sun, and kind of in a crowded space back there.

      Four years ago we had a bumper crop - first time ever! It was so exciting, but even then, they were gnarly-shaped and had some streaks inside. (I ignored much of it, and nobody got sick from eating it.) I didn't know you should knock some off, although I know you can do that with roses. I don't go over there to look at it often enough. :D

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