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.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
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.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Cutting
We will start cutting this week.
Some of us are going to start Sat 11th July from 9.30am. Sarah will be starting on the orchard grass with me mon/tue next week so if you have some free time call ED.
Some of us are going to start Sat 11th July from 9.30am. Sarah will be starting on the orchard grass with me mon/tue next week so if you have some free time call ED.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Eggs
Today i have started to put together our laying flock.
I have got the first five hybrid chicks at a week old and they will be point of lay in October.They should produce 300+ eggs a year each.
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Rotovator hire
Hi all
Myself and Dave will have a rotovator for hire when we start our plots.
It will be available for a minimal charge to cover running costs.(cheapest hire from shop is £54. per day + £100 dep)
If you want to use it please email me.
ED
Orchard
Have had excellent feedback from everyone I contacted and now have detailed information of restoration of the orchard which has been neglected for many years. Obviously it is not a commercial orchard so we will be looking to run it along the lines of traditional orchards with minimal interference.
I am intending to undertake a condition survey of the trees as soon as time allows, plotting location, tree details including dimensions, health and then with input from others devise a management plan. As with gardening it will take time but should be very rewarding increasing fruit production and enhancing wildlife habitat especially amongst the orchard mosaic.
Whilst I can identify the species of the individual trees there are a staggering number of varieties of fruit trees (6000 for Apple alone) and it may be we will need to use one of a few specialists to undertake this for us. The variety will dictate the best management practice.
I am intending to undertake a condition survey of the trees as soon as time allows, plotting location, tree details including dimensions, health and then with input from others devise a management plan. As with gardening it will take time but should be very rewarding increasing fruit production and enhancing wildlife habitat especially amongst the orchard mosaic.
Whilst I can identify the species of the individual trees there are a staggering number of varieties of fruit trees (6000 for Apple alone) and it may be we will need to use one of a few specialists to undertake this for us. The variety will dictate the best management practice.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Vegetable plant supplies
For those of you who, like me, do not have a large supply of vegetable seedlings - because there was no way that I thought we would have the stunning breakthrough Ed achieved - I have found what seems to be an excellent site that could supply all your needs for the types of plants that would be going in to the ground in the August to November period.
Have a look at www.vegetableplantsdirect.co.uk - I have had a chat with them and there is no issue with availability of supply - i.e. they will have plenty !.
I did check the larger operators (Suttons/Dobies, Marshalls, Thompson-Morgan, etc) and as vegetable plants to them are a sideline - they are either out of stock or have minimal amounts left.
The above supplier only supplies vegetable plants, the issues will be; how much of your plot will be ready; by when; and then how much of your plot do you want to use for over-wintering crops.
Note - when you order you can indicate when you would like to receive the order - which makes planning easier.
Me ? - I will be ordering a goodly supply of Kale, Sprouting Broccoli and some cabbage. The rest of the plot will be covered in a variety of green manure.
Hope the above helps.
Mark
Have a look at www.vegetableplantsdirect.co.uk - I have had a chat with them and there is no issue with availability of supply - i.e. they will have plenty !.
I did check the larger operators (Suttons/Dobies, Marshalls, Thompson-Morgan, etc) and as vegetable plants to them are a sideline - they are either out of stock or have minimal amounts left.
The above supplier only supplies vegetable plants, the issues will be; how much of your plot will be ready; by when; and then how much of your plot do you want to use for over-wintering crops.
Note - when you order you can indicate when you would like to receive the order - which makes planning easier.
Me ? - I will be ordering a goodly supply of Kale, Sprouting Broccoli and some cabbage. The rest of the plot will be covered in a variety of green manure.
Hope the above helps.
Mark
Chicks
Two of the six eggs hatched. Mother hen is very protective and clucks when you go near.
I am thinking of getting a incubator and have seen Turkey eggs on the net.
The Turkeys are Norfolk blacks and will make good eating birds for next christmas(2010).
They will give us eggs but not as many as a young bird.
I am thinking of getting a incubator and have seen Turkey eggs on the net.
The Turkeys are Norfolk blacks and will make good eating birds for next christmas(2010).
I think we could rescue 20 ex battery hens to start.
They will give us eggs but not as many as a young bird.Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Baby Bantams
Chick No1 arrived at 6.15am today. After 23hours i had to give it a helping hand out of the shell as it was struggling to get out. Fingers crossed i should get some more.(5 eggs left, i think 4 are fertile)
I will keep a cock bird if i have one and will sell or put the girls in our allotment run.
I will keep a cock bird if i have one and will sell or put the girls in our allotment run.
Orchard
Hi there guys,
Have today contacted several organisations who should be able to assist us with management plans for the orchard for continued fruit production as well as native species habitat. When they get back to me I will update more.
The orchard will need some kind of grass maintenance, preferably by grazing or cut for hay and hopefully we can do this when we get a few of us together to strim the edges of the allotment? Uneven orchard floors are great for invertebrates and cutting between 5 and 15 cm high is optimim.
That is short-term later on in the autumn we will need to prune the trees a little and this will be a significant task so at the time volunteers will be needed as its far to much work for just one or two people. realistically we could prune the trees over two to three year cycle to spread the work load.
Fruity quote "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is slow-ripening fruit" Aristotle.
That is it for now toodle pip
Have today contacted several organisations who should be able to assist us with management plans for the orchard for continued fruit production as well as native species habitat. When they get back to me I will update more.
The orchard will need some kind of grass maintenance, preferably by grazing or cut for hay and hopefully we can do this when we get a few of us together to strim the edges of the allotment? Uneven orchard floors are great for invertebrates and cutting between 5 and 15 cm high is optimim.
That is short-term later on in the autumn we will need to prune the trees a little and this will be a significant task so at the time volunteers will be needed as its far to much work for just one or two people. realistically we could prune the trees over two to three year cycle to spread the work load.
Fruity quote "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is slow-ripening fruit" Aristotle.
That is it for now toodle pip
Monday, 29 June 2009
Chickens
The Nuns have said yes to our chicken project. This is great because some of the group don't have room at home for chickens. I will put in some Bantams and we will get some rescue battery hens, Question is how many?
I was up at 6.30am today doing plot allocations and i think its worked out fine.
Meeting with Mark Oaten MP........
This went very well and he is backing the village 100%.
Maybe we can expand the allotment project sooner rather than later.
This weekend I'm doing the plot contracts and i hope to have them done by Sunday.
I was up at 6.30am today doing plot allocations and i think its worked out fine.
Meeting with Mark Oaten MP........
This went very well and he is backing the village 100%.
Maybe we can expand the allotment project sooner rather than later.
This weekend I'm doing the plot contracts and i hope to have them done by Sunday.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Update on Land.
The Orchard....
Didn't see this in the long grass.
Some of the parking.
More parking.
The lockup.
View North.
The field is now mowed.
Today I've been looking at what to plant when the plots are ready.
I found this list on a forum, if anyone has more ideas please contact me........
Chard
Chinese cabbage
Corn Salad
Florence Fennel
Kale
Japanese Greens (Mizuna)
Japanese Onion seed
Kohl Rabi
Baby Leeks
Lettuce (sow a hardy variety for winter use)
Mustard
Peas
Perennial herbs
Radishes
Salad leaves
Salad Rocket
Spinach
Spinach Beet
Spring Cabbage
Spring Onions (White Lisbon winter hardy)
Summer Radish
Turnips
Winter Radish (end of month)
Winter Savory
Carrot Autumn King 2
I think this lot should keep us going.
Next week I'm pricing raised beds.(timber ect)
Saturday, 27 June 2009
The plot sizes
Today was interesting, myself and Dave took some Bamboo canes and marked out a few trial plots.
All week I've been worried 20 plots would not fit in the field. Sarah has marked out the field on graph paper and we've been trying to fit on the plots. Well today went well we think we can do 20 x 125 m2 plots with room to spare.
Also today we visited Shirrell Heath allotment to get some ideas about planning our plots. I will say this just made me more determined to start planning my layout today.
We have seen big plots, small plots ,tidy plots messy plots and they are all brimming with fresh veg and fruit.
I would suggest a visit to a local allotment to see what you like and dislike .This would give you a head start with your plans and you can put them down on a plot-plan.
All week I've been worried 20 plots would not fit in the field. Sarah has marked out the field on graph paper and we've been trying to fit on the plots. Well today went well we think we can do 20 x 125 m2 plots with room to spare.
Also today we visited Shirrell Heath allotment to get some ideas about planning our plots. I will say this just made me more determined to start planning my layout today.
We have seen big plots, small plots ,tidy plots messy plots and they are all brimming with fresh veg and fruit.
I would suggest a visit to a local allotment to see what you like and dislike .This would give you a head start with your plans and you can put them down on a plot-plan.
Friday, 26 June 2009
All Systems Are Go
Welcome to our new allotment project.
We are a small group of people who wished to grow our own produce but didn't have the land.
Step forward ED (that's me).
I have been trying to set up an allotment project in our village for some time now. Due to brick walls (parish council ect) i decided to lobby our MP.
A meeting has been set for 29/06/09 to discuss our issues.
But we have had some good news.
We have a plot of land in the gounds of a local pastoral center kindly rented to us by the nuns .
The land is due to be ploughed soon and we will take over from 6/8/09.
But we have had some good news.
We have a plot of land in the gounds of a local pastoral center kindly rented to us by the nuns .
The land is due to be ploughed soon and we will take over from 6/8/09.
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