This is why you never count your chickens before they hatch, and you never count your plums before they’re ripe.
We’ve had winds gusting past 25 mph today and the winds have been steady all day. Some of the plums just couldn’t hang on.
It’s sad to see but Mother Nature seems to be determined that I’m not going to successfully grow anything around here. There’s only so much I can do and one thing I cannot do is control the wind!
Some of the trees that have long branches, it looks like every plum is gone. The branches were whipping back and forth pretty violently. The biggest, most productive tree has shorter, tight branches and there are probably half the plums left on there. The peaches, apples and pomegranates look fine but most of the peach trees are somewhat protected from the north wind.
As excited as I get about a good crop of anything, I’ve learned that there are so many things that can go wrong and yesterday was one of those days.
Carolyn says
If it’s not the wind now it will be the hail later. Yes, I know it’s difficult to see this happen.
Judy Laquidara says
Yep . . it’s usually the hail. This is the first year the wind has damaged the trees and blown off so much fruit.
Sherrill Pecere says
Those winds were HORRIBLE!! The only thing I was protecting was the lemon tree and it was up in a protected corner by the house. I lose most of my lemons every year.
Judy Laquidara says
I hope your lemon tree is ok. I was sure glad our peach trees had a little protection from the wind yesterday.
DonnainKS says
I do understand and know it’s disheartening. 25-30 would be a breeze here. We’ve had wind (50-70) here for days. We lost shingles, no one can get on the house in the wind, will hope to get done before spring rains….they are coming….right?
Judy Laquidara says
Hopefully you can get your roof fixed before the rains. Here, almost everyone out in the country, where the winds seem to blow the hardest, have metal roofs. Every time we have one of those 50 – 70 mile wind days, I wonder how on earth people with shingle roofs manage to keep their roofs maintained.
Amy in PA says
I’ve been thinning plum trees for many years now…I’d be thrilled that many took care of themselves, LOL!
Judy Laquidara says
Considering that half the trees now have no plums left on them, I guess if I were thrilled with this result, I’d be better off to cut the trees instead of watering, fertilizing, pruning, etc. I don’t grow them and fuss with them just to have every plum get knocked off in a wind storm. I understand it happens but to be thrilled .. not me!
Nelle Coursey says
So sorry to hear this! I know how hard you work at this!
dezertsuz says
If you decide to stay there, can you plant a wind break row of trees? That is sad to see so many down!
Penny says
I’m sorry ~ that is so sad! One yr the wind blew all the blossoms off 3 of my very prolific miniature lemons trees potted on my patio. The next year I was so excited when the trees begin to blossom! Then the neighbors cows came through our fence, onto my patio & ate all the blossoms off all my miniature citrus trees including my Meyers lemon & my very delicious tangelo tree. This year so far there are no blossoms!