While the potential 'fruit set' is at the heart of this week's English Apple Man Journal, The EAM highlights a scientist who has achieved so much while working at Niab East Malling in Kent and Growing Kent & Medway.
Her recollections of our first meeting in Kent at an open day at East Malling are clearer than mine (brain fade!) but we met when she and her husband Richard joined NIAB Emr. My knowledge of apple growing (her words) was an introduction to 'to the top fruit sector' for her and Richard.
Over the years I have enjoyed a great relationship with Nikki and Richard during my many visits to NIAB EMR.
Following Richard's appointment as the Managing Director of the Plant Sciences Group Wageningen Research, in the Netherlands Nikki has been a regular weekend commuter to join Richard in Holland
Dr Nikki Harrison departs role as Director o Growing Kent & Medway
After an incredible four years at Growing Kent & Medway, I have taken the difficult decision to leave my role to take up a new position in the Netherlands.
I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved so far and I leave knowing the team remains committed to our mission to support the sector and to drive sustainable, economic growth in the region. It has been a privilege to oversee the investment of £8.6 million in cutting-edge research facilities which have significantly boosted the region's capabilities.
We have awarded over £3.9 million in grant funding that is having a tangible impact on the sustainability of our food and farming systems. Networking and partnerships have been at the core of our strategy, and we have recorded over 220 new collaborations between businesses and research organisations so far, helping to drive innovation and bring new products and processes to market.
I want to thank all of the Growing Kent & Medway partners, industry representatives and my team for their support in delivering exceptional technical and business services. A new Director has been appointed and will be announced soon. I look forward to watching the programme continue to grow in the future under their leadership. Dr Nikki Harrison
Click on: Growing Kent & Medway for an overview of GK&M 2023
Fruit set?
The English Apple Man is grateful to members of BAPL Orchard Watch, Nigel Jenner from Avalon and Russell Graydon from Adrian Scripps Ltd for sending me lots of pictures from this week in apple and pear orchards in the South East and West Midlands. Not space enough for all of them, but many thanks anyway. "Keep them coming"
While commercial growers will be assessing the fruit set and what thinning needs to be taken (or have already been taken!) and keeping a keen eye on pest and disease issues, The EAM reminds gardeners that thinning & pests need their attention as well
Below: Sarah-Jayne Worthington from Cotswold Farm - Broadway in the Cotswolds sent me a delightful picture of her assistant manager inspecting the set in their Cameo orchard this week
And more pictures contributed this week
Below: left. Braeburn and right. Bramley
Below: left. Gala and right. Jazz
Below: left. Conference pears have set heavily, but they are now thinning out as they 'turn over' right. a cascade of pear fruitlets shed by the tree
Comment from Nigel Jenner; "Pears were loaded but running heavily now. Think crop will end up good but not much thinning required. As you know, until they 'turn over' we need to keep going to Church on Sundays! "
Below: left. Gala One fruitlets and right. Pink Lady fruitlets
GARDENERS
Commercial apple and pear growers are currently assessing the fruit set, and from what I have heard the set varies from variety to variety and some patchy 'set' in a number of orchards. Gala is generally heavy, Braeburn heavy but thinning naturally but some trees patchy. Bramley generally heavy, with a big range in fruit size, (5mm - 20mm) due to the long flowering period of the variety.
Beware. Rosy apple aphid is a nasty pest if it gets established in your orchard/garden. It caught me out a couple of years ago and made a mess of some of my garden trees. With this current warm weather Rosy is appearing and it's vital to keep on top of it. As a gardener, if you see the leading shoots suddenly curling up, inspect inside and if it is Rosy ideally pinch out the infected areas and destroy.
Below: left. apple shoots curling with Rosy apple aphids infestation and right. under this leaf ants are feeding on the honeydew
Below: left. Rosy apple aphids infestation under these apple tree leaves in The EAM's garden
THINNING
Below: When a heavy fruit set occurs, most bunches set 5 little apples, not all, some have 7. Either way thinning out a heavy set requires removal of unwanted fruit to ensure the tree is not stressed and fruit size meets expectation. When hand thinning remove the middle apple (King fruit) and then leave 'one' or 'two' of the best looking remaining fruitlets.
Below: thin fruitlets down to 'one or two' now then if required remove to 'one fruit' in a few weeks time
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man