Our almond tree in New Hampshire blossomed for the first time this year and is now covered with almonds. It was outstanding in the orchard this spring.
Our almond tree in New Hampshire blossomed for the first time this year and is now covered with almonds. It was outstanding in the orchard this spring.
That's good to hear. The scent of the blossoms in really beautiful too. Our home in Spain is bordered on two sides with almond orchards and the scent of so many trees fills the whole area with a wondrous perfume, just for a few weeks. Bee hives are shipped in during the flowering time for pollinating just to increase the experience even more!!
We got mason bees and "condos" for them to live in.
How are the almonds harvested?
The almonds are harvested in two ways - depending on how well off the farmers are. One method is with a terrible machine that encircles the tree and then shakes it hard to remove the almonds into a receptacle below. I don't like this method, it seems too aggressive to the living tree but that is just my thought, maybe the trees enjoy it. But the whole surrounding ground shakes not just the tree. The second method it laying a collecting sheet under the tree and tapping them down with sticks.
Since we have just the one tree I think we will choose Option #2.
Thanks so much. I have been wondering if they just fall off when they are ripe.
We have an apple picker so we can use that as it is adjustable.
Nice to hear you have some bee condos - good work 🙂