Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
What are you growing this year?
Page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own
Author 
 Message
Lloyd



Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'm going home now, I'll speak to you tomorrow.

Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Thu Feb 03, 05 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 05 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 05 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 05 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 05 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 05 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 05 4:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Oh, well in that case....

I wonder how dog proof they are? I was thinking of a sort of mini meadow/orchard. A few fruit trees (probably about 3!) some wild flowers in the turf, and a perfect excuse not to mow! The lawn is an oval, about 2 x 3 m, and hasn't be fed (except by the dogs if you see what I mean!) for several years.

I can always fence the dogs out while they get established, If I use chicken wire or something, the grasses would cover it, wouldn't they.

Oh, now look what you've gone and done - another new project! I'd vowed not have any this year!

Tristan



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 05 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Beware of gooseberry Early Sulphur, the reason it is hard to find is that it is a devil for mildew. If you've got a really open site with free draining soil, gooseberries will thrive there.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Sun Feb 06, 05 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tristan wrote:
Beware of gooseberry Early Sulphur, the reason it is hard to find is that it is a devil for mildew.


Bugger, I've got Earlt Sulphur and Guido and heavy clay

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Sun Feb 06, 05 8:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

wellington womble wrote:
Do we really need the lawn


Lawns are the most useless things in the world unless you've got any mad keen footballers in the family. Dig it up.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sun Feb 06, 05 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Fraid it's going to have to be a pot then (with good drainage, and plenty of air on the patio!) Unfortunately himself is refusing to let me have the meadow (Although the mention of the trees has got him to ask mr Grumps next door if we can rent his garden again!)

He says it will just look like we haven't mowed the lawn (I did tell him that's the whole point!) As I didn't want a lawn in the first place, and said that if he was going to have one, I was having nothing to do with it, so I can't push it too far! If we get next door I am allowed to have fruit trees and chickens (Still no meadow though!)

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own All times are GMT
Page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Page 6 of 6
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com