Orchard in May

 This could be a good orchard year. Despite the cold March and the beginning of April, the rest was unusually warm. There wasn't a single day with frost temperatures, and the orchard has used this fact in the best possible way. All of the trees and bushes have formed small fruits, and for the first time in a long period, we could have a nice harvest. 

Last year most of the flowers froze, and the only things that survived the frosty April were blackberries and quinces, which started flowering much later than the rest of the orchard. The blackberries gave a nice amount of fruits, and quinces had lots of fruits, but none of them managed to ripe. They all started rotting before the harvest time.

This year could be different. We didn't have any frost or damaging weather during the flowering period. Now that the fruits are growing it is hot, but we're still getting enough rain to be in the average amount. There aren't any diseases present right now, and if we don't get a pest infestation, most of the fruits should survive until the harvest period. 

The apples this year are packed with fruits. There haven't been any apples on the trees past 2 years, so this should be a very good year. For some reason, we always get a good harvest every 3 years. All 6 trees have apples, and probably I should remove some of the apples, but for now, I'll leave all the fruits up.

Cherries and plums are also full of fruits. The early cherry should actually start turning red in a couple of days. The early sour cherry in the woods is already completely ripe, so my early orchard cherry shouldn't be too behind. Of course, the orchard gets less sun since it's on the north side, but still, I'm certain that in a couple of days I will start fighting the blackbirds for little cherries.

The red currants should also soon start to ripe. They are one of the first berries that give fruits in my garden. Usually, strawberries start first, red currants follow, and then the raspberries start. Red currants also benefited from the heat this year. Unlike last year the bush is huge. The branches grew twice since the pruning period in March and this year could be a very good year for currants.

Judging by the blackberry flowering we could have a good blackberry season too. There are lots of flowers, more appear every day and if the weather doesn't change abruptly in a month we will have lots of blackberries.

This year I could also have my first Aronia berries. I've bought the Aronia seedling 2 years ago and this year I've seen that it has its first fruits. I will use them for a homemade juice with the rest of the berries. If the birds don't eat it before I get the chance to harvest it. 

Judging by the May orchard progress this could be a very good orchard year. Of course, that is if we don't get a strong storm during the summer. Hopefully, that won't be the case and I'll get plenty of fruits. One thing is certain, I will not be making any jam from the fruits. I still have jam jars from 2018, which was actually the last wonderful orchard year. Maybe this one will be as good as 2018.