The summer is ending, and I thought it was high time I did a quick fruit tree update. In all, it has been a mixed bag of ups and downs. I found out from my brother who is a pro gardener, that my issue with all the new growth on my new apple and plump trees dying was a caterpillar that creates a little cocoon out of the new leaves and eats them up.
His advice was that it was too late to do anything and they would soon turn to butterflies and fly away. The damage was done but next year I should pluck them off if I see them before they do any harm.
He predicted that things would continue to grow after the little buggers fecked off and he was right. New growth appeared above this area and the leaves looked nice and lush.
I had around 5 apples that were doing ok considering the attacking caterpillars and I was hoping they would ripen.
Even my two plumps looked like they were doing well. My mouth was already watering at the thought of harvest time. This one was starting to redden.
Space invaders
Then suddenly the apples started to disappear. One by one they were gone. I could find no evidence of them on the ground. Then one day I saw a squirrel from my window perched on one of my planters staring back at me as he happily munched away at an apple with a 'What you going to do about it? expression on his chubby cheeks.
Even though it was cute to see I was fuming. There was nothing I could do. He was just being a squirrel doing squirrel things. A few days later all my fruit was gone, plumes and apples alike. All except for one pathetic apple that looked more like a lemon.
Damn grey Squirrels are not native to Ireland but since they were introduced they have all but taken over from the local red ones. I usually don't mind them in my garden as they a playful but now I just look at them as the rats with fancy tails that they are.
All my sweet fruits for this year are gone but hopefully next year there will be more fruit than he can possibly eat. Maybe someone has an idea on how to stop him that doesn't involve the death penalty.
In related news
My cooking apple tree is doing very well after the major pruning I gave it last winter. Lots of big healthy fruit. I'm still waiting for @clodaghdowning to make an apple tart which she has been promising to do for the last few days.
I'll give it another prune this winter to give it a better shape. Last year was the big branches now it will just need a haircut.
