Very worried of Weedin here.....
on Sunday I spotted that my little cherry tree has already got flowers almost bursting into bloom already. Very pink around the edges, so ready to go any minute. I wrapped it in fleece, but two things still concern me: 1st the fact that the fleece acts as a great big sail and will strain the quite small tree in high winds, 2nd that when the flowers do open they won't get pollinated unless I get at them with my paintbrush (and I can only really get after them at weekends until the evenings start to get lighter).
Obviously my big concern is frost - other than fleece (or similar) can anyone think of any other way of protecting them from the inevitable big freeze that always comes in February? Is there any (organic) way of inhibiting the flowers so that they don't open?
It's far too cold for pollinators to be flying; I've had this trouble some years with my plums. The blossom wasn't frosted or anything, but there were no fruit at all. If you want cherries, get to work with a paintbrush (I believe a rabbit's foot works better) and cover it wny time there's a danger of frost. Fortunately, that danger's greatest on the still nights!
Cheers for that RB
I'll have to keep a close eye on the weather forecast and get some batteries for my torch so that I can get out there after work and wrap it up when needs be.
Now who do I know with a pet rabbit..........? ;D ;D
I have seen ornamental cherries in full bloom around here for ages now. Even the snow didn't worry the blooms. My sweet cherry, I'm glad to say, is still tightly covered in buds. I have seen a few bumbley bees bumbling around, but no where near enough to do all the pollinating we will all need!