Follow the Life of a JAZZ Apple Tree from Winter to Harvest.
Week 24
- Week 1 images
Week 1 of 10 - 16/08/10
- Buds on JAZZ 48 are swelling and starting to move. This indicates that spring is nearly upon us and our JAZZ tree is moving towards the first im[portant step of the season, pollination.
- Week 2 images
Week 2 of 10 - 23/08/10
- We continue to see signs of movement in the buds, as they take on a more red/burgandy color, which begins to change the appearance of the tree. Note the bud to the far left, is starting to show some green tip, as it wakens to the coming spring.
- Week 3 images
Week 3 of 10 - 30/08/10
- The cool, rainy weather of the past week has slowed bud movement slightly, but we continue to see the spurs expanding. At this time of year, the bud movement shown, is commonly refered to as "cracking." Looking at these simple fruit spurs, it’s incredible to think that each bud will eventually produce five flowers, which if pollinated, will produce five apples.
- Week 4 images
Week 4 of 10 - 06/09/10
- In between the showers of this week, a few breaks of sunshine and warmer temperatures, have certainly assisted in bud development. Within seven days, our bud cluster featured in last weeks photo, has gone from the cracking stage, into what is commonly referred to as "green tip." Over the coming weeks, we should see a relatively quick transition from this green tip stage, through to the beauty of full bloom.
- Week 5 images
Week 5 of 10 - 13/09/10
- Following our bud cluster from the previous weeks, the transition has progressed from green tip stage, to what is commonly know as "tight cluster" (left image). Looking closely, you can count the 5 pink tipped floral buds emerging. On a mature tree, there are always spurs and branches at various ages. The tight cluster shown is on 2 year old spur wood, which is slightly behind the buds on shown in the second photo, entering "open cluster" (right image) stage, on 1 year old wood. With hopes of sunshine and warm weather, we should see all of our 48 Jazz floral buds transition through these stages into full bloom, over the next week to 10 days.
- Week 6 images
Week 6 of 10 - 20/09/10
- This weeks cold and incredibly windy low pressure system has slowed our 48 Jazz bloom slightly, but the development on the tree is evident, as the flowers are just waiting to burst.
- Honing in for a closer look at the buds we’ve been tracking, we find that they have continued to move, even in these most inclement conditions. Our tight clustered, 2 year old spur wood, continues to transition through "open cluster" on Monday, progressing toward "popcorn" stage by the Thursday.
- Honing in for a closer look at the buds we’ve been tracking, we find that they have continued to move, even in these most inclement conditions. Our tight clustered, 2 year old spur wood, continues to transition through "open cluster" on Monday, progressing toward "popcorn" stage by the Thursday.
- Floral buds on 1 year old wood, have also progressed significantly. On Monday, we found that the center, or "king" blossom, had completely opened, while the remaining 4 blossoms continue moving through open cluster stage. By Thursday, our king flower shows signs of deterioration, indicating it has been pollinated and is soon to drop its petals. The surrounding blossoms in this cluster, have fully reached the popcorn stage and will likely open, over the coming 24 hours. With the prospect of sunshine and warm temperatures over the weekend, we look forward to seeing our 48 Jazz in full bloom, early next week!
- Floral buds on 1 year old wood, have also progressed significantly. On Monday, we found that the center, or "king" blossom, had completely opened, while the remaining 4 blossoms continue moving through open cluster stage. By Thursday, our king flower shows signs of deterioration, indicating it has been pollinated and is soon to drop its petals. The surrounding blossoms in this cluster, have fully reached the popcorn stage and will likely open, over the coming 24 hours. With the prospect of sunshine and warm temperatures over the weekend, we look forward to seeing our 48 Jazz in full bloom, early next week!
- Week 7 images
Week 7 of 10 - 27/09/10
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Early in the week, our Jazz tree is on the way to full bloom. Our clusters on 1 year wood (2nd photo) have officially reached full bloom stage, while the 2nd year wood cluster (3rd photo) has been pollinated, and is the process of petal fall. While standing in the orchard, you can hear 1000’s of bees busily collecting nectar and happily working to pollinate millions of flowers. In a brief moment, we had the opportunity to catch this one on film (4th photo) as it pollinates one of Jazz 48 flowers.
- Week 14 images
Week 14 of 10 - 18/11/10
- The JAZZ tree now has a thick leaf cover to aid in apple production over the rest of the summer months. The increase in heat and sunlight will help the new apple crop to grow.
The flower clusters have now been replaced by young JAZZ apples beginning to grow with energy supplied by the leaves and begginning to colour with the sun. - The JAZZ tree now has a thick leaf cover to aid in apple production over the rest of the summer months. The increase in heat and sunlight will help the new apple crop to grow.
The flower clusters have now been replaced by young JAZZ apples beginning to grow with energy supplied by the leaves and begginning to colour with the sun.
- Week 16 images
Week 16 of 10 - 29/11/10
- The JAZZ trees have continued to grow leaves and increase in size with the summer sun.
The fruit has now been thinned by hand, this means some smaller JAZZ apples have been removed to allow the bigger ones to grow even bigger. At the moment the fruit still points upwards with the centre pointing towards the sky as the flower once did. Soon when the apples grow big enough the stems will begin to bend under the weight of the fruit and the apple will be the right way up. - The JAZZ trees have continued to grow leaves and increase in size with the summer sun.
The fruit has now been thinned by hand, this means some smaller JAZZ apples have been removed to allow the bigger ones to grow even bigger. At the moment the fruit still points upwards with the centre pointing towards the sky as the flower once did. Soon when the apples grow big enough the stems will begin to bend under the weight of the fruit and the apple will be the right way up. - The JAZZ trees have continued to grow leaves and increase in size with the summer sun.
The fruit has now been thinned by hand, this means some smaller JAZZ apples have been removed to allow the bigger ones to grow even bigger. At the moment the fruit still points upwards with the centre pointing towards the sky as the flower once did. Soon when the apples grow big enough the stems will begin to bend under the weight of the fruit and the apple will be the right way up.
- Week 24 images
Week 24 of 10 - 26/01/11
- Due to great weather over the past four weeks the JAZZ apple trees have been growing great. Some irrigation has been needed due to lack of rain but a little rainfall over the last week will help the trees on their way into harvest.
The great weather has also given the energy to the apples, they are growing steadily in size, currently at a size that would fit 120 in a box and at this rate will be big enough to only fit 80 by the time they are ready to be picked. Exciting times ahead as we see how the apples ripen on the tree and the time to harvest gets even shorter. - Due to great weather over the past four weeks the JAZZ apple trees have been growing great. Some irrigation has been needed due to lack of rain but a little rainfall over the last week will help the trees on their way into harvest.
The great weather has also given the energy to the apples, they are growing steadily in size, currently at a size that would fit 120 in a box and at this rate will be big enough to only fit 80 by the time they are ready to be picked. Exciting times ahead as we see how the apples ripen on the tree and the time to harvest gets even shorter.