Collecting Seeds and dry wood
The hot, dry weather allows seeds to dry naturally. We must carefully collect tree tomato and tomatillo seeds from the fruit pulp before they dry. However, there’s always a risk of seed pods opening or dropping to the ground and starting to germinate. We harvest the dry seed pods and store them for the future, ensuring they are dry enough to prevent mould development. We’re also currently harvesting and preserving Egyptian spinach and bean seeds. The wood from our pruned plants is dry enough to be stacked up for the pizza oven. Our edible trees provide safe wood for baking, cooking, smoking, and drying food.
Harvesting fruits, herbs and vegetables
Raspberries, apples, gin berries, figs, cape gooseberries, fresh beans, citrus fruits, and various leafy vegetables are available for harvest. The herbs are ready for harvesting and subsequent shade drying.
Weeding and Pest Control
The heat can, unfortunately, encourage the growth of weeds, which we diligently remove to maintain a beneficial ground cover. It’s important to consistently keep the weeds in check before they can flower and spread their seeds. The warmth also provides a favourable environment for pests to thrive, such as mealy bugs and fungal infections, which can pose challenges this time of year. We took the necessary steps to address this by emptying the fruit fly traps and changing the lures. We focus on eliminating the fruit flies as the stone fruits bloom. It’s crucial always to have preventive measures and pest control in place.
During droughts, birds may struggle to find enough food in the area, but thankfully, there is ample produce for humans and wildlife. The presence of cats seems to help keep the bird population in check. We do not need bird nets to protect our soft fruits. Our goal is to maintain a harmonious balance in the ecosystem.
Fruit thinning and intercropping
We continue to thin out apples, grapes and citrus fruits to prevent the trees from being overburdened. Encouraging layered planting will create more protection from the elements. We have established a natural shield against the elements, safeguarding the delicate fruits from adverse weather conditions and fostering a more resilient and sustainable environment for cultivation. It also contributes to the overall health and productivity of the orchard.
Making compost
It is essential and cost-saving to efficiently transform manure, topsoil, and plant material into compost. Due to the unusually high temperatures we are experiencing, this process is accelerated by several weeks. By spring (which falls between August and September), a substantial amount of nutrient-rich compost, totalling around 60 tonnes, will be readily available to nourish the soil and potted plants.
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