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Almond Trees @ the light garden - St Andrews Garden, Victoria Australia

there are three Almond trees in the St Andrews Orchard

Tree 1 - There was an old established tree, type and origin unknown which is quite large and has been heavily pruned at some point. In March 2009 I put a bud graft from one of the self pollinating varieties on the tree.

2012 first flowers open 19 July

 

Tree 2 - Planted in the Spring of 2005

an almond flower 2012

Photograph - Sept 2008

Self pollinating Almond

 

2016 January -A bee hive was installed in the orchard
2015 The tree produce a good bowl of almonds
2007 Feb 3 first fruit - 3 almonds
2008 Feb 5 almonds
2008 22 July beginning to flower. During the winter a swale was built in front of the tree in a curved shape, this was back filled with compost.
2009

During the winter of 2009 the trees had a good spread of blood and bone and a load of compost. During the spring they were also watered with Trichaderma Plus. Apart from the very hot beginning to the year - 3 days in a row over 45 Degrees and one over 47 Degrees the weather has been much wetter and the trees have grown very well.

 

   

March 2010

Establishing the tree is one thing, protecting it against wildlife is quite another - the tree is surrounded by wire netting supported by star pickets to stop attack from wallabies who eat the leaves. The netting runs to the ground to stop rabbits who might ring bark the tree.

When in fruit it is also covered with netting to prevent opossums and parrots who eat the fruit. The Star pickets also prevent large Kangaroos who frequent the orchard from bashing into the tree and breaking it down.

 

I never had to worry about any of this lot in the New Zealand garden -

 

Tree 3 - Planted in the Autumn of 2008

Flowering almond - Aug 2013

This tree sulked and did not break bud until Jan 2009, however since then it has put on some very good growth.

March 2010