Happy New Year to you all.
I hope this post will find you all in good health, happy among your loved ones.
Today Winter granted us a light dusting of snow that discreetly covered everything. Some parts got more snow then they wished for.
My kale still stands proud with its sugary crown. Gammon and kale next week? Could happen... 😜 The railing and the picnic table along with the garden got a bit of taste of the freshly fallen snow shower. While in other parts of Ireland people are getting inches upon inches of snow and blizzard, my garden got another light dusting...🤷🤦
Today (5th) we woke up to another bitterly cold day - 2 C outside, everything frozen and dreaming of warmer days. Although the sun came out melting the ice on the footpaths, yet it has teeth, the air stays bitterly cold.
The morning of the 12th started mild, not so cold, but windy and wet. It rained all weekend and it was bitter cold. My garden is sleeping, not much to report on that front.
Today (14th)I harvested some kale for the dinner and I was amazed how quick it boiled and how sweet it was. Maybe the frost made them sweeter, which is true thinking of sprouts, experts say that a bit of frost will turn them sweeter. I like them anyway they are 😜ðŸ¤
Sun was out today, it was quite pleasant (18th), bit still had a lil bite. To my surprise the greenhouse was nice and warm. Outside my garden is slowly waking up despite everyone thinking that this month is a dead month.
Fruiting buds are plump, fuzzy, and protrude from the branch, developing into flowers and then fruit, while leaf buds are slender, flatter, and lie closer to the stem, growing into new leaves and shoots. Think of fruit buds as "fat" and "furry" for reproduction, and leaf buds as "skinny" and "flat" for vegetative growth, often found in clusters or on short spurs for fruit, versus along the main branch for leaves.
Key Differences
Appearance:
Fruit Buds: Plump, round, often covered in downy or furry scales, and stick out more.
Leaf Buds: Slim, pointed, flat, and smooth, lying close to the branch.
Function:
Fruit Buds: Contain embryonic flowers that become fruit.
Leaf Buds: Contain embryonic leaves and stems for new growth.
Location:
Fruit Buds: Often appear in clusters or on short spurs (modified stems) at right angles to the branch, especially on horizontal shoots.
Leaf Buds: Usually found in the leaf axils (where leaves attach) or at the branch tips.
How to Tell Them Apart (Example: Apple/Pear Trees)
Look for plumpness: A fat, furry bud is likely a fruit bud.
Check its shape: A flat, pointed bud is usually a leaf bud.
Note its position: Leaf buds grow from leaf axils; fruit buds often sit next to them or on spurs, making them look like separate, larger bumps. Think of fruit buds as "fat" and "furry" for reproduction, and leaf buds as "skinny" and "flat" for vegetative growth, often found in clusters or on short spurs for fruit, versus along the main branch for leaves.
Key Differences
- Appearance:
- Fruit Buds: Plump, round, often covered in downy or furry scales, and stick out more.
- Leaf Buds: Slim, pointed, flat, and smooth, lying close to the branch.
- Function:
- Fruit Buds: Contain embryonic flowers that become fruit.
- Leaf Buds: Contain embryonic leaves and stems for new growth.
- Location:
- Fruit Buds: Often appear in clusters or on short spurs (modified stems) at right angles to the branch, especially on horizontal shoots.
- Leaf Buds: Usually found in the leaf axils (where leaves attach) or at the branch tips.
How to Tell Them Apart (Example: Apple/Pear Trees)
- Look for plumpness: A fat, furry bud is likely a fruit bud.
- Check its shape: A flat, pointed bud is usually a leaf bud.
- Note its position: Leaf buds grow from leaf axils; fruit buds often sit next to them or on spurs, making them look like separate, larger bumps.
After reading these, there's your challenge, go out find a fruiting tree and try and tell the difference between a fruiting bud and a leaf bud. Are you ready? Let's do this! Let me know in a comment how did it go for you.....
In the collage you can also see my newly planted grape vine. The vine comes from the town I was born in, and I can't wait to see it fruiting. Nice warmish inside for them (13 C), while outside was 8 C the 1st snowdrops are showing their little, delicate white faces, Christmas roses are blooming again, while the viburnum (winter lilac) never stopped blooming all winter.
This month ends on a wet note when Storm Chandra swept across Ireland flooding everyone everywhere, including my garden and just for a moment I was contemplating if we should start growing gills. The waters were up to my low raised bed, and kept growing then stopped when the rains stopped. It will slowly drew back in the following days, hopefully my plants didn't suffer from the excess if water.
This has never happened before, thanks Storm Chandra.
All the best, take care
Annamaria
