The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

Just to confuse things further........whinberries, bilberries are called frauchens in the Dublin county area where my late mother grew up.......there was a "Frauchen Sunday" when charabancs ( 1920s) would take people out from the city to pick them and have picnics around the area known as the Pine Forest. Allegedly all these berries, and bluberries, grow best in areas where there are pine forests......perhaps FPK you can find a pine growing area to start your search.....good hunting.

Marie.

nursemaggie That's brilliant news about the central heating :j

Nice to see you on here Marie

Well, it's been an interesting day so far.....we got into the car and set off to go shopping, but OH immediately realised something didn't feel right with the car....flat tyre! So we managed to turn round and come back home, as we'd only got round the corner.
He rang the RAC who initially said there would be a wait of about 3 hours, so i prepared to take the shopping trolley to the local shops; but then the RAC man rang and said he was only round the corner and would be with us as soon as he'd finished his current job.

He came about 10 minutes later and was here only about 10 minutes - we were so glad that when OH ordered the car (it's a Motability one) he paid extra for a proper spare wheel. Well, I say a "proper" spare wheel, it's one of those "spacesaver" ones but a great deal better than just a repair kit.

So we were able to go shopping, then when we got back OH told me that one of the arms of his glasses had snapped as he changed over from his reading glasses when the RAC man arrived.

Now waiting for someone from KwikFit to bring a new tyre, but it's 5 o'clock and they're not here so far.

Ah, they've just rung but can't come until Tuesday, or OH can take the car to another local-ish branch to have it done there, but there's no need really as we have a usable car for now. And we have food. Easy stuff, mostly.

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Thank you Floss! We're very close to Dovestones so I shall butter OH up with the pie and then make the suggestion. We may be in this house a year, possibly two so I may not even be here for a first strawberry harvest. There is a good spot for them in the garden, but it may just have to wait...

They will happily grow in troughs or pots, and then can go with you. As to harvest, the first ones I planted in Feb 2012 were two packs of six plants from Aldi, and we had our own strawberries for Wimbledon finals day that year!

Morning all,

Floss, I've never gotten strawberries to fruit in containers. I can get most things going in them so there must be some secret I lack! I suggested Dovestones to OH after his first bite of pie. He said he'd think about it.

Yorkshirelass, we got them in the local greeengrocers--tried them more as a novelty as I wouldn't say they were an economical way to spend a tight fruit budget. The label said Poland, so there must be some knocking about somewhere.

Right we're off for a morning walk. Hugs to all who need them.x

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Floss, I've never gotten strawberries to fruit in containers. I can get most things going in them so there must be some secret I lack!

Yorkshirelass, we got them in the local greeengrocers--tried them more as a novelty as I wouldn't say they were an economical way to spend a tight fruit budget. The label said Poland, so there must be some knocking about somewhere.

Apparently bilberries originate from Northern Europe, especially Scandanavia and Eastern Europe (so not surprised yours were from Poland) whereas blueberries are American cultivares. The bilberries are smaller, less sweet and grow wild on poor, scrubby, acidic soil rather than being cultivated. They're also more time-consuming when it comes to picking. I suppose back in the 50s we didn't have today's choice and all-year-round availability that we do now and tended to eat seasonally. Maybe then the bilberries were an "extra"growing in corners of farm fields but wouldn't be profitable nowadays. And no, they wouldn't be economical as you need loads to make a pie!

On a happier note, I can normally grow strawberries in containers, but this year mine haven't done that well either. Probably the up/down weather's to blame rather than our horticultural skills!

As for local greengrocers - if only . Our nearest local parade of shops has a Chinese/Thai take-away, an off licence/convenience store (I never use it - very expensive), a hairdressers, a fish & chip shop and two units knocked into one for a community centre. In the other direction, on the "big" parade, we did have two greengrocers (one of which also sold wet fish on a Wed and Fri), a butcher and choice of two bakeries. Not any more though, they've all gone We're left with 5 charity shops, 2 funeral directors, a cafe, 2 hairdressers and a barber, a mobile phone shop, a Jewish deli, a travel agent, a newsagent and 3 bank branches.