Last Fall, I bought several fruit trees that I blogged about HERE.
We have kept them in the city until the time is right to plant them out at the farm. Today when I left for work, I looked and to my surprise, the pear tree has already started budding out and putting on flowers...so much for that groundhog!
Of course, none of the trees are in the ground yet, and we're only in early February. A freeze is definitely still possible. Somewhere deep down in its genetic makeup, this tree thinks it is time to bud out. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do at this point? If we do get a freeze, should I cover it and protect this new growth? Not worry about it? Any suggestions?
Oh that is a welcome sight! I can't wait to see our trees budding...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt IS nice to see, anytime of year huh? We know something good is coming!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
DeleteMy last frost date is June 4. When I buy trees in the spring, I keep them protected until after my frost date........I've never tried to plant them early--I don't figure it's worth risking the money I spent. Of course, like I said, I have a REALLY LATE frost date.
ReplyDeleteYeah, probably a smart idea, I need to not get over anxious and waste good money, ha. June 4th? WOW! June 4th we'll probably be in the upper 90's....ha.
DeleteIf there is an imminent freeze i would cover with some heavy mil plastic. Just remember to uncover it later, haha
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I see so many people around the neighborhood who put stuff over their plants and I see it there day and night and day and night, even after the temps go up.
DeleteA heartwarming sight indeed but agree still too risky with potential frosts. You can get special lightweight fleece that just drapes over the tree and tie loosely around the bottom on nights that frost is forecast and lift it off in the morning when the temps rise. Good luck...nobody wants frost-bitten pears
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Yep, I think I won't take any chances. I like the idea of the lightweight fleece stuff, I'll have to check that out. Frost bitten pears wouldn't be good would they, ha.
DeleteCover 'em up, wait for the last freeze to pass, put 'em in the ground and cross your fingers. You might just get fruit this year :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, how I'd LOVE some fresh fruit this year. Even a couple per tree would be awesome this first year.
DeleteI'll cross my fingers and toes and arms and legs and eyes if it will work, LOL!
We usually pinch off any new flowers if its the first year we've planted. Once the trees are planted in the ground, we also keep pinching off the new flowers. The reason for us doing it this way is to encourage good root growth in the first year. All our fruit trees last year wanted so much to bare fruit, even beyond spring, but I was out there each week nipping the buds off. One of our pear trees bore so many buds that I couldn't keep up with the pinching. LOL I finally gave in and let it bare fruit. The problem with that was that this tree stayed the same size from the day it was planted, while all the rest of our fruit trees grew over 3 feet in the first season.
ReplyDeleteIt seems mean to take the buds and flowers, but it truly did make our trees stronger, taller and healthy.
Angela, thanks for that info. I've heard that you should do that the first year, that it makes for stronger trees in the future. It would just kill me to do, but if it's for the better in the long run, I guess I should! Nice to hear some first hand experience that it really DOES work, ha. Thanks!!!
DeleteA hard freeze will knock off the blooms or developing fruit, but you really don't want to stress the tree with fruit the first year.
ReplyDeleteAnother confirmation about that. I guess that's what it's about, not stressing the tree the first year with fruit? Of course I need to get them in the ground soon but I'll pinch those off..."for the good of the tree", ha.
DeleteI just looked out my window and noticed my Lilac tree is starting to get buds. This is not good. It's way to early in WI for this to be happening!! We have had a very mild winter. We have only had a few inches of snow and only about one week of REALLY cold weather, so the poor tree is very confused.
ReplyDeleteWishing us bold continued mild weather and beautiful "fruit" from our trees!!!
Isn't the weather crazy?? I was thinking the other day that the groundhog saw his shadow and so six more weeks of winter. I guess that means six more weeks of this? I guess I can handle that, ha. Post some pics if you get fruit later this year!!
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