It’s been a year since the last orchard “status report” in February of 2024. Time for an update:
The pear tree bore a bumper crop of wonderfully juicy and aromatic pears – yellow with reddish cheeks, probably “Clapp’s Favorite”.
What I had thought to be a “cherry tree” turned out to be a reineclaude tree and the few fruit it bore were among the best I have ever, ever tasted! It is quite sick though: later in the summer it began to ooze clear sap all over. It is suffering from gummosis and I’m not sure what to to about it.
The dwarf morello cherry “Carmine Jewel” produced about about ten bright red cherries and seemed undaunted by heat or drought.
The dwarf fig tree “Ice Crystal” died despite regular watering. And the large fig trees bore very few figs in the fall, probably because of the heavy pruning in the fall. Hopefully this year will be better.
The “Goumi du Japon” (Eleagnus umbellata amoroso) still did not produce any fruit at all. It will get one more season to prove itself before being kicked out.
The gooseberry “Hinnonmäki Red” barely survived the summer, the red and white currants did not – despite being planted in half shade, heavily mulched, and regularly watered.
Raspberries, loganberry, tayberry and thornless blackberry grew more or less (though a lot less than in cooler regions I’ve gardened in) but produced very few fruit to no fruit at all. Despite being in their own bed with wonderfully rich soil and being watered even a bit more than other plants. They as well will get one more summer to prove themselves before being kicked out.
The strawberries that were planted among them did okay. But a mere handful of nice fruit from several plants does not really make for a good cost-benefit result. The strawberries on the other side all died.
The grapevine “Venus” only bore one bunch of grapes this year and had funny leaves. I will need to watch it and maybe spray this year. The other two grapevines, “Goldlife Muscat” and “Galanth”, both died inexplicably.
The Cornelian cherry (cornus mas) “Schönbrunner Gourmet Dirndl” barely survived the summer but has several flowers this spring. We will see.
The prunier d’Agen was just as undaunted as the morello cherry and in its first year already produced about fifteen wonderfully blue and aromatic plums.
Morus alba “Milanowek” was planted in the ornamental garden and though still quite small produced a lot of very aromatic mulberries. A very good alternative to the other berries.
Last but not least: in the fall I planted an Arbutus unedo because I actually quite like the taste of the fruit and it is one kind of tree that really should work here. I also planted a pomegranate tree “Mollar de Elche”, suitable for the climate and with fruit that is reputed to be quite seedless and sweet.
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