A disturbing sight in the garden today: autumn has arrived. We’re barely a week through August and already the cherry tree has its first red leaf.
In fairness, the poor tree has suffered somewhat from being planted in a large terracotta pot. It’s supposed to be: it’s a patio tree, but it’s never really been happy there and I think that at the end of the season I’m going to transplant it into a bed somewhere.
All of its fruits dried up before we could pick them, probably because the roots were getting baked by the hot sun that warmed up the pot. The pot then retained all of the heat, of course, but as it was bought as a patio plant it’s not a very impressive performance.
Either way, whatever the reason, the first red leaf of the year is already here.
Shudder.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi
I read last year’s blog on making crab apple jelly. Want to try this year. Not sure when is the best time to pick the crabapples and wondered if you could help?
Last year’s blog suggests third / fourth week of September, but the fruit on my tiny tree are already mostly red, there are a few on the ground that have fallen and they are starting to be picked at by birds etc.
I was struck by your comment on ‘early autumn’ and wondered whether the weather this summer means that crop has come earlier than expected and I should pick now. Never done this before – how do I know when crapapples are ready for turning into jelly?
Thanks,
K
I was thinking about this just this last weekend when I looked at my own crab apple tree. Like yours the apples are already turning red, and one had now fallen off, so I think I may take them off the tree this weekend and make an early batch of jam.
HelloNik
I too have a crab apple tree and the apples are dropping like flies… I sweep up and bin loads every day at the moment but feel that the time is still not quite right to be making my jelly. I think I will hold out until Bank Holiday weekend when I will pick as many red ones as I can off the tree (while I get hit on the head by all the others dropping!!!) and get at least a first batch of the juice prepared. I am pretty sure that the longer I an leave the apples before picking the better… something to do with the pectin? Can anyone add to this:
Thanks Nik. Let me know how you get on – I can’t manage it this weekend but think I will have a go next weekend.
K