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To cover or not to cover fruit trees??

pottering girlpottering girl Posts: 236
in Fruit & veg
We are expecting a mild frost on a couple of days next week (-1).  Should I fleece cover my fruit blossom on my pleached trees?  TIA
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  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    I asked the same about my cherry blossom,  haven't had an answer yet.
  • pottering girlpottering girl Posts: 236
    Google was pretty hopeless on the topic.    Lost all my pears last year to Beast of the East, don't want to lose them to novice gardeners' Test from the West.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    Decided as it's going to be so cold put fleece around the cherry, as it is small was an easy job to do.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,445
    If you have the fleece and the ability, Yes. It will need to come off in the day so the bees can pollinate.  My apples are starting to bud and the plum is in full flower. If there is a frost, I expect to lose the crop. Such is the problem with a mild winter and an early warm spring.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    My plum is in full flower too, but is too big to fleece so will have to take its chances. Yes I will be in and out all week taking it on and off as its supposed to be cold until Friday.🙄
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    edited March 2019
    I used to run in and out with fleece, casting it around like lady bountiful at night and hauling it in the following morning like some demented fisherman.

    Eventually, after a couple of years, I worked out that I was wasting my time.

    For a start, you have to tie it on. One breath of wind in the night and you have (a) no frost protection and (b), more annoyingly, probably pulled quite a few flower buds off.

    If it rains instead of freezing, or worse freezes and sticks on after rain, the fleece turns into a sodden mass of gunk and, again, involves damage to the flowers in the degunking procedure.

    Even if it doesn’t rain or freeze you still have to untie the thing and remove it during the day.

    No, just pray.It’s cheaper and less stressful.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • pottering girlpottering girl Posts: 236
    I have covered my plum and pear.  I didn't realise that I would have to remove again for the bees.  Oh flip!
  • pottering girlpottering girl Posts: 236
    Lol, got your post pf a little too late.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    edited March 2019
    It's done now, too dark to find my way to the tree now.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    😊
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
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