After my last plea for people to help prune the trees in the orchard I had only one offer of assistance.....rather poor given the numerous people who were happy to strip the trees of fruit last season.
We have the orchard to benefit from due to the nuns kind permission; however, this is on the proviso that we manage the trees.....If we don't this permission could be removed and we would all lose out. Given this I am again appealing for volunteers to help prune the trees.
Given it is now so late in the season we will need to do this before end of Feb or the sap will be rising.....If you want apple pie this year why not lend a hand?
Friday 22 January 2010
Insurance and SWCAA
The South West Counties Allotments Association offer FREE public liability insurance, yes it's true....
To take advantage of this all one needs to do is become a friend of SWCAA for the huge fee of two pounds per year, this great deal also includes lots of useful information, newsletters and access to discounted seeds!
I have joined SWCAA already and my insurance and other membership stuff came through in less than a week!
To take advantage of this all one needs to do is become a friend of SWCAA for the huge fee of two pounds per year, this great deal also includes lots of useful information, newsletters and access to discounted seeds!
I have joined SWCAA already and my insurance and other membership stuff came through in less than a week!
Thursday 12 November 2009
Orchard Volunteers
I am going to Brogdales in Kent on Saturday 14th November to undertake a day course in fruit tree management comprising of lectures in the morning and practical pruning workshops in the afternoon, very exciting indeed.
http://www.brogdalecollections.co.uk/
If you love fruit and have not been why not go along next year they have many events and it really is smashing.
We are planning to prune a third of the orchard trees this year and if anybody would be prepared to help and learn would they please let me know, with possible dates. We can do a weekend day and perhaps a day in the week too? We will need a coupe of ladders, sharp secateurs and saws.
http://www.brogdalecollections.co.uk/
If you love fruit and have not been why not go along next year they have many events and it really is smashing.
We are planning to prune a third of the orchard trees this year and if anybody would be prepared to help and learn would they please let me know, with possible dates. We can do a weekend day and perhaps a day in the week too? We will need a coupe of ladders, sharp secateurs and saws.
Thursday 20 August 2009
Gravel Boards
For those of you who are fans of raised beds, or want to experiment with them, SCATS in Wickham are selling 6' boards (1.83m) for £1.61.
The same board 1.83 by 150mm by 25mm - are being sold by B&Q for £4.98.
Today I constructed my first raised bed on my plot - 36 feet long by 4 feet wide - total cost of the wood was £22.54 (14 boards) - (B&Q price £69.72). The stakes used to secure them came from the hedgerow after application of my billhook.
There is space for roughly six beds of this length on the plot (subject to sheds, greenhouses, seed beds etc).
I have an excellent book that I thoroughly recommend called "Growing Fruit and Vegetables on a Bed System" by Pauline Pears - £7.95 - ISBN 1-84448-012-7.
Happy to lend it out.
The same board 1.83 by 150mm by 25mm - are being sold by B&Q for £4.98.
Today I constructed my first raised bed on my plot - 36 feet long by 4 feet wide - total cost of the wood was £22.54 (14 boards) - (B&Q price £69.72). The stakes used to secure them came from the hedgerow after application of my billhook.
There is space for roughly six beds of this length on the plot (subject to sheds, greenhouses, seed beds etc).
I have an excellent book that I thoroughly recommend called "Growing Fruit and Vegetables on a Bed System" by Pauline Pears - £7.95 - ISBN 1-84448-012-7.
Happy to lend it out.
pH Values
Today I conducted a series of tests across the plot to determine the pH values so as to inform allotment holders of any potential issues.
I did eight tests in a line from a point roughly 25 meters east of the chicken house to the old manure heap on Ed's plot under the yew trees.
pH values ranged from just over 6 near the chickens, 5.7-5.8 on my plot and then a tad over 6 on Eds plot.
I also tested the clay subsoil that exists (on my plot anyway not much more than a spit below the surface) and that checked out at a pH value of bang on 6.
This means ( if I have read my book correctly) that all is well and the pH values are fully controllable for whatever vegetable you care to grow by the addition of the relevant material.
For information the tests were conducted with a Tenax mini pH tester.
If you have any queries, please contact me.
I did eight tests in a line from a point roughly 25 meters east of the chicken house to the old manure heap on Ed's plot under the yew trees.
pH values ranged from just over 6 near the chickens, 5.7-5.8 on my plot and then a tad over 6 on Eds plot.
I also tested the clay subsoil that exists (on my plot anyway not much more than a spit below the surface) and that checked out at a pH value of bang on 6.
This means ( if I have read my book correctly) that all is well and the pH values are fully controllable for whatever vegetable you care to grow by the addition of the relevant material.
For information the tests were conducted with a Tenax mini pH tester.
If you have any queries, please contact me.
Thursday 6 August 2009
August work
Looking good people i can see lots has been done.I hope to plant potatoes this weekend and make a path.Daves fruit cage looks good and the sheds are great.Still alot to do but the weathers not great.
Hope you can attend the BBQ it will be a good way to meet everybody.
Hope you can attend the BBQ it will be a good way to meet everybody.
Thursday 16 July 2009
Not long now....
The field looks great,It has been ploughed and the farmer has broken up the worst lumps.
We will need to use a tiller on each plot and remove any grass clods.
Today me and the family and Sarah started to strim the orchard .Well the children played in the field and Clare(wife) met a friend and talked.But Sarah and me did loads of strimming and the orchard is starting to look good.
I hope you are all looking forwards to the next few weeks of hard work.
I can't wait to start.
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