The plums are swelling

      The warm and wet weather preceded by the long dry spell seems to have suited all of  the varieties of plums that are growing in the orchard. The Laxtons Early, Victoria, Tsar and Burbank Giant Prune are showing all of the indications that there is going be a really bumper harvest.
      Now we have to hope that there are no heavy hailstorms because the ice bruises the fruit and leaves the skins covered in marks caused by the battering. The plums still make brilliant jam but they're just not as aesthetically pleasing as a perfect plum with the yeasty bloom on it.
      Plum watch continues with growing interest and increasing anticipation.