I've been wondering recently if the arctic March we've just had, and which seems finally to be ending, might actually help produce a heavy fruit-harvest in the autumn, my reasoning being that plant growth is so delayed that fruit trees such as my apples and quince will be flowering 3 or 4 weeks later than usual (early-to-mid May, instead of mid-to-late April), and will thus have a better chance of escaping late frosts and enjoying warm, sunny weather, with plenty of bees and other pollenating insects around.
It turns out I was right! In the latest issue of 'The Week', in its 'Good week for.../Bad week for...' column, I read the following: "Good week for orchards, which are likely to produce a bumper harvest. The cold weather has stopped fruit trees from blooming too early." When I read that, I punched the air (a habit I find highly irritating when other people do it), and shouted "wa-hey!". Loads of cider this autumn (provided we don't get a soaking May, like last year's soaking April)!
It turns out I was right! In the latest issue of 'The Week', in its 'Good week for.../Bad week for...' column, I read the following: "Good week for orchards, which are likely to produce a bumper harvest. The cold weather has stopped fruit trees from blooming too early." When I read that, I punched the air (a habit I find highly irritating when other people do it), and shouted "wa-hey!". Loads of cider this autumn (provided we don't get a soaking May, like last year's soaking April)!
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