What are you growing this year?

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What are you growing this year?
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Pilsbury

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 5645
Location: East london/Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 6:59 pm Post subject:
Picked up 2 aple trees and a pear tree today from wilks and plan to put them in pots on the patio but whats the best mix to put them in? I was thinking a mix of soil, peat free compost and manure ?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45723
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:00 pm Post subject:
I wouldn't use manure unless it's well composted. phosphate is good at planting.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:22 pm Post subject:
Ok Mr T, my garden has a footprint of roughly 3/4 of an acre, the house being in one corner ish. As such the garden with greenhouse gets sun from dawn till dusk, with open fields on all sides. The greenhouse is a 6 by 8.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:23 pm Post subject:
Only one day of frost so far this winter, and two of snow. Otherwise pretty mild here.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45723
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:25 pm Post subject:
Then you'll be able to grow a fig in the open, speak to Mr Read and explain your situation, he's the national collection holder for grapes, figs and citrus. How much space do you want to devote to fruit? And get a bigger greenhouse (or poly tunnel if you can't afford a greenhouse)

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:30 pm Post subject:
I'd like two or three different types of fruit trees, say an orange a fig and a lemon, to go with my apple. A polytunnel would be fun, but possibly overkill. A bigger greenhouse is a definite possible, and I still plan for a few chickens.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45723
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:32 pm Post subject:
I'm going home now, I'll speak to you tomorrow.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 9:15 pm Post subject:
try northern polytunnels, a 10x20 ft is about �250 all in. Got one on order . Website is www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk. I have a horrible feeling I'll be getting another next year. Re chickens, sheds are 1/3rd the price of anything labelled chicken house and dead easy to adapt.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 05 9:23 pm Post subject:
Ten by twenty is far too big for my needs. Six by eight is too small though. Got any pix of your modded sheds? We just moved here from Bishops Waltham, whereabouts are you?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45723
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 05 12:44 pm Post subject:

OK here goes, like I said I'd recommend a fig, also you should have at least one plum, Victoria is self fertile but I'd go for two different ones that are compatible have a look at Keepers selection:

https://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/

Although you might be better finding somewhere more local for some local varieties.

Gooseberries, there's loads of different dessert and culinary varieties available:

https://www.roughamhallnurseries.co.uk/Soft%20fruit.htm

Raspberries, if you get a selection you should be able to harvest from June to early October

If you've got an empty wall or fence I'd go for blackberries.

And if your soil is acid I'd go for some blueberries too

Don't hesitate to ask for more info if necessary

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 05 1:44 pm Post subject:
What fruit trees/shrubs etc have you got in your own garden, Tahir? Where's the smiley for noseyness?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45723
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 05 1:50 pm Post subject:
I've got: 2 pears, 1 full size, 1 minarette 2 cherries, minarettes 5 apples, 2 "S" trained, 3 cordons 2 plums fan trained 2 gages fan trained 1 fig 1 walnut 1 chestnut and am planting this season: 1 grape (outdoor) 2 gooseberries 2 blueberries (in bags of acidified soil)

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Fri Feb 04, 05 9:27 pm Post subject:
Thanks, Tahir. Soil is neutral. I like what you say and am printing it off as I type. I'll get planting next week but busy now coz my new range turned up and I want to try Sean's recipe for onion soup to deflower my virgin range!...I'll take some pix and do an article.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 1:20 pm Post subject:
Tahir, Mr Womble is very cross with you for putting up those links. I have been looking for gooseberry 'early sulphur' for ages. Wonder where I'm going to put it. Do we really need the lawn, do you think? or does soft fruit crop well in big pots........ most things do better in pots in my garden (when the watering system works) I think it might be that I can manage better on pot scale!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 4:31 pm Post subject:
WW, it would be an ethical decision to get rid of the lawn and replace it with fruit trees. Much more sustainable. And probably less trouble.

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