After just four weeks the Nagasaki is now fully into flower bud mode and several are already open. I anticipate by the end of this week the three to five hundred flowers will be fully open.
Whilst there are many that frown when I repot during initial bud-break, I have found over almost thirty years, this particular tree thrives on being re-potted at this time.
This year was a particularly invasive repot and some 60% was removed with a full wash through which left a virtual bare-root situation. There was so little soil left it was not difficult to achieve.
The flower buds are mostly at the pink stage now and ready to turn white. All I will do is prevent the formation of fruit by a reduction amounting to removal of around 80% of the apples. Then through careful pruning I will wire selected new growth and do my best to keep leaf size down to acceptable aesthetic limits.
I will update this post when all the flowers are open.
There will be further information and pictures of this particular tree under case histories very shortly.
March 31st 2011
What a difference a few days make! Around 60% of flowers are now fully open.
Cant begin to tell you how much i love this Nagasaki Mike, what a stunner, and when its in full flower its going to be completely spectacular. Very much looking forward to regular updates on this one Mike.
Real credit to you buddy, a very fine tree in your superb collection