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.
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