Welcome to Notes From the Orchard

Latest Posts and Updates

• Top-Fruit Blossom, Spring 2020May 1, 2020
  It’s been a rather incredible year for fruit blossom, hasn’t it? The past couple of days have turned a bit grey and wet (although of course the much-needed rain is hugely welcomed) but the first four weeks of April were sunny, hot and dry, and fruit trees responded with an effusive outpouring of flowers. Of […]
• The Biffin DilemmaFebruary 16, 2020
  In which I try to work out whether I can justify the energy consumption needed to cook up a classic apple dessert…
• Another Holly Mount Pruning Session, February 2020February 4, 2020
  A grey but dry and hugely enjoyable Sunday afternoon was well spent on helping to finish off this year’s winter pruning work.
• Mature Apple Tree: Restoration PruningJanuary 28, 2020
  Here’s how I went about the first phase of restorative pruning on a mature apple three that has been sadly neglected for a few years.
• Stepover Apple Trees: Winter PruningJanuary 21, 2020
  Here’s how I pruned three stepover trees on our allotment plot, leaving them until January rather than pruning in late summer as usually advised.
• Pruning Session: Holly Mount Orchard, January 2020January 7, 2020
  On a grey and drizzly afternoon I spent a happy few hours helping to winter prune a few of the trees in Holly Mount community orchard.
• Book Notes: Apple, by Marcia ReissNovember 17, 2019
  A review of Marcia Reiss’ social history of the apple, as told from a US-based perspective.
• Restoration Pruning of an Overgrown Plum TreeAugust 25, 2019
  Improving the branch structure of an overgrown and crowded plum tree on our allotment plot.
• How To: (Hopefully) Prevent an Orchard Aphid NightmareMay 30, 2019
  In which I attempt to save our damson from the ravages of an aphid infestation.