午後の2時半頃に、突然 土砂降りになりました。ちょうどタイガの午後のトイレ散歩から戻ったところだったので、ほっと一息。バルコニーの皇帝ナツメ苗は結構大きいので、暴風で倒れないか心配で見に行きました。
At around 2:30 p.m., we had a downpour of rain - I am not sure whether it had been forecast or not. Luckily, we had just come back from Taiga's quick toilet walk after lunch. I was now worried that the tallest jujube plant in a pot might be knocked down by the strong wind and rushed to the upstairs balcony.
Sheets of rain were passing by between my house and the neighbour's.
去年の今頃は着果が多すぎて、惜しみながら最終的に10個まで減らして完熟期を迎えましたが、今年は間引きの必要はないようです。枝数が少ないのは、たぶん、10号ロングスリット鉢では既に根詰まりしているからだと思います。今度の冬に根っこを切り戻すか、または１階に降ろして鉢増しするかの選択です。バルコニーには8個の10号鉢が置いてあるので、これ以上重量で負担を大きくしたくないところです。
今年の皇帝ナツメの枝ぶりは剪定なしでも結構スカスカなので、どうやら倒れずに済みました。
This tree last year was dense with new branches but, this year, it is looking airy without pruning, so the strong wind caused no problem.
This time last year, the tree had countless young fruits, and I kept picking them down to 10 fruits to mature - no such need this year. I suspect that the reason why the plant does not have many branches is due to the roots being pot bound. This is the second year in the 30cm diameter pot, and it is already getting too small. In the coming winter, I will have to either cut back the roots or take it downstairs to repot in a larger one. I already keep 8 of 30 cm diameter pots on the balcony and do not want to increase the weight.
