France in Focus

I've just mowed the grass including the 'orchard' & had a good look at the fruit trees.
Apple & peach trees seem OK but plums & pears almost zero fruit set. Seems like the late frosts have done their worst again.
Cherries are there but as usual the birdies will beat us to it.

It's strange that peaches escaped but pears didn't, LAF. Next spring, if late frosts forecast, it's worth collecting the mowings and putting a deep pile around vulnerable trees (not touching the trunk, naturally) a couple of days beforehand. The heat given off is just enough to protect blossom

Just about to mention this so will piggyback, we have not had any late frosts but I have bedding plants that would normally be out by now but we are still in a cold N/NE wind and very gusty late PM, night time temps can still be in single figures, anyone risked putting anything out yet?

It sounds as though you still need to have them overnight in a frame or similar - I don’t think I’d risk them out overnight just yet.

We also have chilly north-easterlies here in Berkshire. I have my hanging baskets of tomatoes out, but they are hanging on the south-facing house and were put out when nights were very mild, so were well hardened-off.

All the tomatoes are outside facing south but with a screen behind them to protect them from the cold north-easterlies. So far they are doing fine.