Mad Tom Orchard

We have been getting lots of “Are you OK” questions with the publicity about the flood damages in Vermont.  Fortunately we had several inches of rain but no water damage.  So we are fine, but could make do with a bit less rain.  Unfortunately lots of folks elsewhere in Vermont are dealing with major problems.

Our big challenge is dealing with the 90% crop loss from the freeze on May 18.  We will probably be open for two or possibly three weekends in September but not during the week because there will be so few apples.  We will definitely not be open Labor Day weekend September 2 & 3 because there are no Zestars, our earliest ripening apple.  We plan to have cider donuts on the limited weekends that we will be open.

As we get to the end of August we will know more about our schedule.  The most fruit is on the 80 year old Macintosh trees up near the road ,which have some apples – the cold air runs down hill where there are very few apples. Besides Macs, there are some Galas up near the road, and some late-ripening Crimson Crisp and Northern Spy’s.  What would have been a very good Honey-crisp crop essentially disappeared – the crows will probably get what is left.

There are two types of damage 1) many fewer blossoms set apples and 2) a lot of fruit that did set has frost rings and damaged fruit.  We have been using small clippers to thin the damaged fruit so the remaining apples can grow to better  size.

Fortunately the trees are all healthy (as are we) and we hope to have a good crop next year.  Hope all of you who suffered flood damage are finding your way forward.

Watch the web and Facebook for updates – be sure to check when we will be open before you come.

Unfortunately the 27 degree temperature early Thursday morning froze more than 50 % of our fruit buds.  We have been cutting open fruit buds from all our varieties and most show heavy damage.  The old Macintosh trees may have less damage than the the others.  We will be evaluating what fruit has survived over the coming days.

So this is not happy news – fortunately we and all our family are in good health and we will see all three daughters and sons in law plus all our grandkids for Memorial Day weekend.

Pictures show we are approaching full bloom – several warm sunny days forecast – great weather for good pollination.  Our bumble bees are very happy.

Janey is enjoying becoming an orchard dog – likes to run off leash – she is so fast it is hard to get her in the photo.

We and the orchard have had a generally good winter – no major adverse weather though we did get 36 inches of wet snow March 14.  Pruning is done and most of the brush has been picked up and run thru the big chipper.

The picture shows leaves on the trees now at “1/2 inch green” and the fruit buds will be at “tight cluster” by this weekend.  There is no forecast for frost in the near term and there are plenty of fruit buds – so off to a good start, but months to go until harvest.

Sylvia and I managed to avoid COVID for just over three years since the start in March 2020 – that luck ran out this year at the end of March when we both tested positive – symptoms have generally been a lot of fatigue and head congestion/cold symptoms.  Unfortunately we got a second COVID round after completing the Paxlovid cycle, but we are now getting thru that as well.

Jilly our 15 year old Shih Tzu passed away in February from cancer and we now have three months old Janey from the same breeder. She is very alert and rapidly figuring out the daily routines – follows us closely on walks thru the orchard and wants to explore everything.

I will post periodically as we go thru the growing season – look forward to seeing folks in the fall.

Zestars at 1/2 inch green

Janey paying close attention.