Life has a habit of getting in the way of gardening sometimes and so it has been the case this year. The drought has made matter worse as more time is needed for watering duties. I thought I was on top of the apple trees, thinning them out and religiously picking up the brown rot apples. But it was not so. Here’s my six from the garden this week.
One
The apples are much smaller this year but the number is plentiful and even though I had been thinning them I was clearly being too kind. This bough broke and the quantity of apples was immense. On today’s tour of the garden another broken branch was spotted. I have to get tougher.
Two
I’m growing marmande tomatoes this year and they are just ripening. There is always one tomato that does this. Fasciation I think. Does anyone else find this?
Three
The miscanthus ‘Silberfeder’ gets a photo to itself this week. After three years it has formed a sizeable clump and is providing a good distraction from the fence behind.
Four
The grapes on the vine are actually ripening this year. There is some splitting but not as much as in previous years. They have had no additional watering. The vine is grown to shade a pergola so any edible fruits that we do get will be a bonus.
Five
The scented leaf pelargonium ‘Capitatum’ was left outside last winter as the greenhouse was being replaced. As you can see, it survived and is doing very well.
Six
These are the apples from the fallen bough. Quite a lot as you can see and plenty of very small ones that I should have picked off. Live and learn.
Garden Ruminations is the place to go for all the SOS links and for Jim’s wise words. After another week of hot temperatures here I am looking forward to next week which will at least be cooler even if, once again, no rain is forecast.
n20gardener 
Oh dear, I bet your heart sank when you saw the broken bough. Hopefully it will come back from it’s drama. Lovely pelargonium!
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Like a stone! It’s quite a central one too. 😔
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It’s not just your apple tree, the drought has caused trees all over to drop branches quite dramatically, it is partly a self-preservation thing I believe. My neighbour’s cherry lost a huge branch and my brother-in-law says that some quite old tress have been dropping branches.
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That’s so interesting and a little reassuring. I’ve been in the garden today taking weight off the persimmon tree. And watering it! I never thought I’d do that.
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Just heard report from Kee Gardens that this is a problem this year.
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Kew!
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Sorry about the apple bough breaking. I love the pretty color on the scented pelargonium.
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Thank you 🙏
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The primary problem that I encounter with limbs that break from the weight of their own fruit is that dormant pruning is not aggressive enough. Aggressive dormant pruning eliminates much of the excess fruit before it develops, and conserves resources for fruit that does develop.
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I don’t prune in the winter but I did miss a summer prune last year. Back on track this year.
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Your fruits and plants are beautiful, even if you’re just getting to them and even with the broken bough. I hope the Apple tree will be just fine over time. What an impressive harvest! Happy Six!
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Those grapes look very impressive – I hope you do get to enjoy some. Sorry to read about your apple tree woes and I’ve just read your Bluesky post about codling moth. The joys of gardening.
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It’s been a challenge this year. I was taking remedial action on the persimmon yesterday. It seems many trees are dropping branches due to drought. The weight of fruit obviously doesn’t help.
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Oh no. What a shame re the broken branches on your apple tree. I also need to toughen up and this week I’ve been ruthless in an effort to save water.
The tomato you pictured my toms often suffer with this and I have no idea what caused it.
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Yes more saving of water going on here. Re toms it seems to be first one to form that suffers.
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It’s good to see a scented leaved pelargonium with a nice flower. Many seem to have sacrificed the flower for the foliage.
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Yes. My favourite one. The others have more delicate flowers but I like these ones best.
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My scented leaved pellies remain outside, though I sometimes throw a fleece over them, or place the smaller pots under a bench or table. Pink Capitatum / Pink Capricorn does seem to have the larger flowers, though Mimosa is quite pretty too. Shame about the apple tree, hope it recovers.
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