Hello been on holiday to Tenby , so just seen your post , amazing fruit on apple tree mine at allotment not very good , thinking of starting again with a Discovery tree on a small root stock Also the first plum tree , the original grafted root stock seems to have taken over , so really needs to come out ! Hope you are keeping well ,what great weather and hopefully continue into September
Funny you should say that about your plum tree, I was thinking of removing the one that came with the plot which I think is Victoria (or similar looking from the 1 or 2 plums I've seen). It produces a lot of shoots from the bottom, one of which seemed to have thorns the other day. I'm sure I read it on here that plum tree rootstock can have thorns, or else I've made that up.
Anyway, I was thinking, although I cut it back last summer it is tree size and will be hard to maintain. It occurred to me if I took it out I could put more autumn raspberry canes in the space along the plot edge which would mean I have space for another 2 kinds of autumn, non staking kinds and I vastly prefer rasps to plums. I am currently thinking Paris and Autumn Treasure.
We have got all onions , shallots , garlic & broad beans in Started clearing beds and covering smaller ones with horse manure and larger ones with membrane for over wintering Next major job pruning summer & autumn raspberries
Hello, sorry I didn't notice a notification for your post.
I've handed in my notice for the allotment. Sunderland Council sent out the bills again after putting them on hold for 'investigation' of water charges. There was no explanation so if the incorrect commercial grading for the water had indeed been applied, clearly they think the plot holders should pay for this error.
The cost is currently £165.50/annum and the contract states a minimum 5% annual increase will be applied.
I have paid the bill, but as the initial bills were sent out late, after the rental period had already began but during the 'no-cancellation' period of the year, I have asked that they accept 12 months retrospective notice. It doesn't seem just that they expect (what will amount to) 18 months notice after a 400% increase and late notification of charges. They haven't responded to any of my written communications and are evasive on the phone.
Over the winter I intend to move some of some of my favourite raspberries to the garden and I will try blackberry Reuben in a pot. I will move my two apple cordons to the garden also and I have a space for the yellow crab apple. I think I have found a home for my other apple tree but will leave behind all the large blackberries, bulbs and perennials.
I will try and sell the greenhouse. Sometimes you have to cut your losses😐
I'm very disappointed with the council. If they had been open and communicative I might have decided differently. Hardly any of the plots at my site were worked this year, some low morale I think. There is a suspicion the land is wanted for development. Work is already planned for the wooded area behind the site.
At least part of it doesn't flood now, in case it ends up as someone's garden😉
I finally got in touch with the council by phone, I couldn't ascertain whether they had received my previous communications or not but it looks positive that I can end tenancy in Spring next year, just awaiting confirmation, so that is good news.
Started collapsing the plot today, didn't see anyone else, perhaps the wrong time of year. I dug up the Erica raspberries I bought as cells and the 3 Ruby Beauty plants. I've potted up the RB's and planted the 4 Erica's in the garden. I'm still against the cells, they have grown more roots but are still tiny. One I'm not sure about and if it doesn't thrive in the garden I'll replace with another type from the allotment. I haven't got room for all the rasps in the garden.
Tried one of the russet windfalls, it was lovely, that little tree is coming back to the garden also.
Just editing to say, the primocane blackberry Reuben didn't have chance to ripen before the frosts (I assume) mangled it. The fruits are not fully formed and are now wizened. If I had room I'd try it as a floricane, I don't see why that wouldn't work but I have decided not to waste the pot on an experimental dozen blackberries.
Posts
mine at allotment not very good , thinking of starting again with a Discovery tree on a small root stock
Also the first plum tree , the original grafted root stock seems to have taken over , so really needs to come out !
Hope you are keeping well ,what great weather and hopefully continue into September
Funny you should say that about your plum tree, I was thinking of removing the one that came with the plot which I think is Victoria (or similar looking from the 1 or 2 plums I've seen). It produces a lot of shoots from the bottom, one of which seemed to have thorns the other day. I'm sure I read it on here that plum tree rootstock can have thorns, or else I've made that up.
Anyway, I was thinking, although I cut it back last summer it is tree size and will be hard to maintain. It occurred to me if I took it out I could put more autumn raspberry canes in the space along the plot edge which would mean I have space for another 2 kinds of autumn, non staking kinds and I vastly prefer rasps to plums. I am currently thinking Paris and Autumn Treasure.
You could strip the bark and carve it into statue 😉
Started clearing beds and covering smaller ones with horse manure and larger ones with membrane for over wintering
Next major job pruning summer & autumn raspberries
I've handed in my notice for the allotment. Sunderland Council sent out the bills again after putting them on hold for 'investigation' of water charges. There was no explanation so if the incorrect commercial grading for the water had indeed been applied, clearly they think the plot holders should pay for this error.
The cost is currently £165.50/annum and the contract states a minimum 5% annual increase will be applied.
I have paid the bill, but as the initial bills were sent out late, after the rental period had already began but during the 'no-cancellation' period of the year, I have asked that they accept 12 months retrospective notice. It doesn't seem just that they expect (what will amount to) 18 months notice after a 400% increase and late notification of charges. They haven't responded to any of my written communications and are evasive on the phone.
Over the winter I intend to move some of some of my favourite raspberries to the garden and I will try blackberry Reuben in a pot. I will move my two apple cordons to the garden also and I have a space for the yellow crab apple. I think I have found a home for my other apple tree but will leave behind all the large blackberries, bulbs and perennials.
I will try and sell the greenhouse. Sometimes you have to cut your losses😐
Sunderland Council is an absolute disgrace
I'm very disappointed with the council. If they had been open and communicative I might have decided differently. Hardly any of the plots at my site were worked this year, some low morale I think. There is a suspicion the land is wanted for development. Work is already planned for the wooded area behind the site.
At least part of it doesn't flood now, in case it ends up as someone's garden😉
Started collapsing the plot today, didn't see anyone else, perhaps the wrong time of year. I dug up the Erica raspberries I bought as cells and the 3 Ruby Beauty plants. I've potted up the RB's and planted the 4 Erica's in the garden. I'm still against the cells, they have grown more roots but are still tiny. One I'm not sure about and if it doesn't thrive in the garden I'll replace with another type from the allotment. I haven't got room for all the rasps in the garden.
Tried one of the russet windfalls, it was lovely, that little tree is coming back to the garden also.
Just editing to say, the primocane blackberry Reuben didn't have chance to ripen before the frosts (I assume) mangled it. The fruits are not fully formed and are now wizened. If I had room I'd try it as a floricane, I don't see why that wouldn't work but I have decided not to waste the pot on an experimental dozen blackberries.