The meeting took the form of a practical fruit tree pruning workshop held in Maurice and Janet Evans’ orchard in ơlış.

And most members brought along their secateurs/loppers and joined in enthusiastically.

Instruction was given by Devrim Beyde, an Agricultural Engineer employed at Fethiye’s Chamber of Agriculture, who stressed the basic principle of fruit tree pruning is to open up the centre of the crown of the tree so air and sun and get to all branches.

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Of course it wasn’t quite that simple: you should remove all dead wood, no branches should cross, and there should be sufficient space between branches.

I am sure you get the idea.

As well as citrus he demonstrated on a damson and an olive and answered numerous questions about other types of fruit tree not present.

And then the members ‘attacked’ the rest of the trees.

We await with interest reports of crops in this orchard later in the year.

And many thanks to Maurice and Janet for not only putting up with us all, but also providing refreshments.

Next month the meeting is a Bring and Buy Plant Sale – all plants 1TL.  So please start potting, we’ll post detailed information on venue and time nearer the date.