After a wet period from Sunday evening through until Monday lunchtime, the sun is out and temperatures back above 25C.
Disturbing news reached me on Tuesday afternoon; my sister-in-law received an email from a friend back home with hail covering a car. My immediate concern was for my fruit grower friends in England.
Having communicated with friends in East and West Kent, it seems the picture is varied; some have a little hail which may be of little consequence, while others anticipate more serious problems. It is too early to make a firm judgement so we must pray for good luck.
Below extracts of comments from England.........
"Quite a lot of hail today in short, sharp showers. It might be too early for any real damage.
"Wide spread and very heavy in parts throughout Kent and Wisbech area. A bit early to say but some farms have some minor damage. Most don't seem that worried at the moment. Looks like potentially a nice crop if it all hangs on!
"Hail experienced at several sites throughout Kent. Because of the growth stage it's happened at, we will have to wait a week or two to assess any potential quality damage. There is very slight leaf damage but the fruitlets are too small to make a judgement on. Certainly not suffered any devastation as the size and quantity of hail might have led us to believe!!
Hoping when we look in a few weeks there's no signs - but we'll see!
The English Apple Man comments:
Hail is a challenge to all who grow fruit throughout the world and in many places hail protection is an absolute necessity. The latest news from overseas comes from Spain.
Severe hailstorm causes damage in Murcia and Albacete
On Tuesday, 19 May, Murcia and Albacete registered an intense hailstorm that is estimated to have caused serious damage to some 1,800 hectares of crops.
The storm took place on the border between Murcia and Albacete, with the northern Altiplano region being the hardest hit area, mainly Jumilla, with about 1,000 hectares, and Yecla, with 800 hectares.
The most affected crops have been grapes and cherries in the Altiplano region, with 100% of the production lost this year and about 70% for next year in the case of grapes and between 50 and 75% for cherries, as reported by ASAJA Murcia.
Almonds, with about 30% lost, as well as pear and stonefruit trees, have also been affected.
Damage to the wood of the trees can lead to the development of bacteria and facilitate the spread of pests and diseases.
As for Albacete, losses affect mainly grapes, garlic and cereals.
The English Apple Man in Malta
Here in Malta our annual fortnight in the sun, the first week has been socially very busy with our 'circle of friends' and a two day visit to Gozo; we previously visited Gozo about five years ago, but in 'November' when most of the restaurants had closed down for their winter break. This time we booked into St.Patricks Hotel in the little seaside resort of Xlendi and gave ourselves the benefit of two days to explore the island.
Gozo is much quieter than Malta where the increase in cars over the years we have been coming here (8) has been exponential; as soon as we drove off the Ferry a feeling of relaxation ensued, the ability to 'poodle' around Gozo without any feelings of stress was wonderful.
The only place where any semblance of a 'traffic jam' occurred was in Rabat (Victoria) the capital City of Gozo.
Gozo, as anyone familiar with the Island will know is much greener than Malta and more productive in terms of food production. During our 'forays' down quiet country roads (some not much more than tracks) elements of horticulture caught my eye.
In the fertile valleys vineyards and a multitude of horticultural crops sit side by side. Tomatoes grow in the fields, marrows, courgettes, aubergines, cabbages, lettuce, strawberries, and every 'hedgerow' has prickly pears; lemon trees, figs et al are in abundance.
Below; a fertile valley in Gozo
The cereal harvest is finished here and it is intriguing to see 'big bales' in the fields; fields which are barely big enough to turn a tractor and baler in, proliferate the hillsides of Gozo.
Below; on a hillside farmers working in the small fields
Small fields but 'big' view
This small plot of Sunflowers with bird protection and trickle irrigation sat on a hill with onions and legumes close by.
Sunflowers
Growing under polythene tunnels;
Below left; Not sure what the crop is under the tunnels - Below right; Onions
Below left; Dianthus - Below right; Again not sure what this crop is, looks like potatoes from a distance?
Finally - 'a fine figure of The English Apple Man' on a beach in Gozo!!!!
That is all for this week..........we have one more week in Malta............more next week!
Take care
The English Apple Man