Anyone with fruit trees? What does all this weather mean for our apple and pear harvests?

[chillidog]

I know there was a fear after the mild winter that crops would be adversely affected because there had been so little real cold, but then we had a cold spell which presumably solved that one (albeit possibly damaging some very early blossom).

Will the current downpours help to offset the forecast drought, do you think?

AFAIK fruit trees appreciate the very variable weather we get in the UK, so I'm hoping thinking this year's weather will really suit them.

I have a much loved apple tree which is often very fruitful and a pear tree which is temperamental but bears the most delicious fruit.

Low fruit yield, I think. I'm not seeing many bees about.

Depends if the blossom is out with yours yet - luckily mine is not yet out. If it continues raining like this when the blossom's out the bees won't be able to get out much and pollonate the flowers so that the crop won't be good.

Oh, damn.

Lots of bees in my garden, though, thanks to pulmonaria and (earlier) lonicera japonica.

My pear blossom has come and gone; apple blossom is in full bloom.

Have you been out today to see how many are actually around today?

Er, no, it's pouring out there!

But seriously, won't they have been doing some of their pollination work already?

Well my plum tree finished flowering before this horrible weather came in, so should have a fairly decent crop. One of the apples has finished too. Currently the Bramley and two other apple trees are in blossom, but the pear hasn't started yet.

Fingers crossed!

My apple blossom has coloured up but is not out so I'm crossing my fingers.

Just wrapped up and staggered out: there are lots of little incipient pears , some apple blossom fully out, but some still in bud. So I too am crossing my fingers.

I just think all this rain must be swelling the pears, surely?