Win Some..... Lose Some
Unfortunately, I wasn't counting on those large Black Birds that hang out around here during migration (see BLOG: http://tomh7259.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-is-this-hitchcock-movie.html ). setting up nests in the neighbours tree. Turns out, that my estimated Nectarine Harvest (Mid July) almost exactly coincided with the fledgling of Black Bird Chicks. I thought the first fruit ruined was maybe from bugs, but when the second and third were destroyed, I noticed "Beak Damage". Those cone shaped punctures couldn't be anything else.
So, my First Crop was destroyed. Well....... Not exactly. See, the birds destroyed the "top" of the fruit. There wasn't anything wrong with the bottom of the fruit. WHAT? did you think I coached that fruit tree for 4 months, just to toss that fruit without even a taste? Hey, those fruits were only a couple of weeks to harvest, and would have made a GREAT Birthday (July 2) present for myself. So, I couldn't resist. I cut away the top half of the fruits, and ate the bottoms. MAN, I'm not just saying it because I grew it, but that fruit was so sweet, it was almost TOO sweet. Another couple of weeks growth would have been perfect.
Annnnyyyyway, The good news is, my Fuji Apple Tree DOES NOT need a different apple tree nearby to pollinate it. Turns out, Fuji Trees are self-fruiting. The 8 apples weren't touched by the birds, and now the largest ones are larger than golf balls, and bordering on baseballs. I estimate the harvest will be mid-September. I'm really starting to believe that I'll get to prove to those naysayers that yes, it really IS POSSIBLE, to grow apples in Arizona! Ya see what a person can do, when they don't listen to the Doubting Thomas' :-)
So, since I wasn't expecting the Nectarine to sprout, The "Apple Tree Idea" is "bearing fruit" (OK, enough with the plant jokes) and that Navel Orange Tree is entering it's 4th year, so it BETTER give me oranges this year..... Or ELSE. Yes, I would have to say, that all in all, Tom's Fruit Growing Empire is off to a solid start. Hey, don't laugh, Dole, and Del Monte had to start somewhere :-)
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