Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

What about my "Pride"?

You're not really suggesting that I might actually beat you, are you? :eek:

I only need to beat three people. The one I'm most worried about is the one in Norfolk, as he may have better growing conditions than me. I may have to rely on guile and cunning. He may also read this*. :doh:

Of course, if I did produce a bean longer than you, I'd be pretty chuffed. :rotfl: I'll be disappointed with anything less than...ooo...three feet. :cool:

*so burying it in an 800+ post thread might help a bit. I'll just need to mention beans in every post I make from now on to confuse the search facility.

mrbadexample

I've just ordered an apple tree. Coming soon. Well, November.

beans

kazzaw

mrbadexample wrote: »

I've just ordered an apple tree. Coming soon. Well, November.

beans

Oooohhh! What variety? My OH doesn't want be to buy one - says it will grow too big??!!

annie123

kazzaw wrote: »

Oooohhh! What variety? My OH doesn't want be to buy one - says it will grow too big??!!

Depends on the rootstock, http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2a_apple.asp
will give you all the info you need.
I have an M27 cox apple tree growing along my 3' high fence as I have a small garden and like to squeeze as much as possible in.

mrbadexample

kazzaw wrote: »

Oooohhh! What variety? My OH doesn't want be to buy one - says it will grow too big??!!

Then you need to talk to him about rootstocks. I've been doing a fair amount of reading about fruit trees, as I feel it's something my garden lacks.

Size of tree depends on:

1. How vigorous the variety is.
2. Type of rootstock.
3. Soil conditions.

There's a calculator here, to give you a rough idea.

I've ordered a 2-year old James Grieve 2-tier espalier on an MM106 rootstock. I hope that won't get too big, but it's a fairly standard rootstock for espaliers, I'm told.

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

I have an M27 cox apple tree growing along my 3' high fence as I have a small garden and like to squeeze as much as possible in.

Please can we have a picture?

annie123

mrbadexample wrote: »

Please can we have a picture?

You can when DD gets back from her holiday with my camera next week. Didn't want to take her expensive mobile with camera in case anything happened to it, but it's OK if something happens to my camera apparently!

I think you've made a good choice of tree.
Our one was given to hubby as a present and I wanted to use it as a step over but he didn't like the idea and wanted to try and bonsai it! (he has several bonsai trees)
After 3 years he gave up and plonked it in the ground, so I did the best I could with it and now its growing, slowly, along out fence.

Buy with the correct pruning over the last 4 years, one branch gives a good crop for its size and the other is getting there.

djohn2002uk

mrbadexample wrote: »

then you need to talk to him about rootstocks. I've been doing a fair amount of reading about fruit trees, as i feel it's something my garden lacks.

Size of tree depends on:

1. How vigorous the variety is.
2. Type of rootstock.
3. Soil conditions.

There's a calculator here, to give you a rough idea.

I've ordered a 2-year old james grieve 2-tier espalier on an mm106 rootstock. I hope that won't get too big, but it's a fairly standard rootstock for espaliers, i'm told.

beans beans

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

beans beans

Didn't take me long to forget, did it? :rotfl:

Thanks mate.

MKS

emiff6 wrote: »

MKS - one of my veg growing books says whitening or scorching of leaves can be caused by root damage which is caused by too much liquid fertiliser being applied to the roots. have you been overfeeding them?

Thanks. Haven't fed them yet.