The gardens here at Chilworth are filled with the scent of wisteria and day by day plants and trees are bursting into flower or leaf as the growing season seems to be upon us early this year. As in the garden, so in the vineyard with the first signs of budburst taking place on 12th April.
Those of us on Frost Watch quickly became inseparable from our weather apps and the Potting Shed (the coffee sanctuary for the Chilworth Team!) became the centre of much speculation and forecasting! However, dare I say that it seems we may be fortunate this year and that the vines can grow away unchecked? If so, a real boon for the season as it will ultimately mean an earlier flowering and a longer period to ripen the grapes.
But we are not out of the woods yet and despite the wonderful sunshine this week (25 degrees today) I will be keeping the weather forecasts firmly on my ‘favourites’ button for the foreseeable future!
