Daydream fund challenge part 4

fuddle

RAS wrote: »

fuddle

You could get a couple of espalier apples or pears two rungs high on that but I would suggest going for cordons. It takes several years to get an espalier trained and fruiting (you need to remove the fruit until it is trained). Assuming you can grow the plants higher than the trellis (canes or stout posts) you could have 8 varieties with different ripening seasons instead of two gluts.

Alternatively consider making cordons or espaliers of soft fruit; redcurrants, white currants and gooseberries. Contrary to popular belief the latter if ripened make good desert fruit, tasting like Chinese gooseberries. We have one of the plots that is decidedly lemony and another has quite a complex winey taste.

For apple and pear varieties, pick Queen Cox or Sunset rather than Cox as they do better and if you are making cordons or espaliers, avoid tip bearers like Discovery. And if you must have Bramley go for Clone 20 but it would still probably be too vigorous for you. Conference is good; self-fertile but produces much better with a pollinator like Invincible or Onward.

If you happen to see good cheap trees in the supermarkets in the spring, buy, plant a foot apart and water over the summer; you can move them next winter when you know what you want to do.

Wow, thanks RAS I've book marked it for the spring. A lot of knowledge in that post that won't enter my head until I research. Very much appreciated

Davesnave any chance your neighbour could have the onset of dementia maybe? At least you could possibly lessen your annoyance a little as it sounds as if the things done out of sync aren't really being done on purpose to annoy you... maybe

RAS

Thanks fuddle

Try and find an allotment site near you and ask the locals about varieties that do well locally.

The apple most people like on the plots here was a bit of a nightmare, when my neighbour asked me to look at her new plot. I did not know enough to recognise what I was looking at but was able to help her start to reduce the crowding and height.

When another person took over the plot, we were fortunate to have someone more experienced who realised it was a seedling tree, so unique. Not any more because we have been grafting it for the last three years.

It grow well for a seedling, it crops prolifically and decades of plot holders have though it worth retaining.

More importantly it ripens in mid September and develops greasy skin later. Most early apples will rot by the end of October or early November; some within weeks. The greasy skin suggested a keeper and that has proved right; it stores until the end of January.

So we have an accidental early ripening keeper that is suited to modern tastes (red, sweet and crunchy). It is much nicer than most supermarket apples (not that I eat many) IMO and makes a nice contrast to the cox and russet types I grow most of the time.

A bit like hitting the bull's eye first time really.

It is a bit more difficult than most to graft but we are getting it out there.

So ask round and even if you do not find a really local apple, you will still find out more quicker about your options and probably get to taste before you commit.

Davesnave

fuddle wrote: »

Davesnave any chance your neighbour could have the onset of dementia maybe? At least you could possibly lessen your annoyance a little as it sounds as if the things done out of sync aren't really being done on purpose to annoy you... maybe

Well, a mental incapacity was roughly what I was suggesting in my last post on the subject. I was forced to reconsider as a result of what I witnessed, simple as that.

There was a long-standing problem regarding refuse collection here, largely overcome now despite increasing complexity, and she's not the only one who has demonstrated a blindness to rules regarding this. If it was just one I could live with it.

Fortunately, a majority acknowledge the improvement between the way things used to be and now. The previous owner of our house did nothing to keep the communal entrance and roadside area decent, whereas I maintain it. In return, I expect cooperation, rather than a pat on the back.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Afternoon all

Its a nightmare out there, you would swear the shops were closed for a month , not one or two days!!!!

I told hubby that next year, unless we made it, grew it I am buyi g everything in poundieland lol..

Went to symths toy store to get a jigsaw for stepfather as my Amazon order is now officially lost. I was gobsmacked that parents were shopping for their kids, with the kids with them!!!!

RAS

Things are not quite so bad here CTC. I was in town and a woman almost knocked one of her children over with her bags, right into me. She apologised to the child.

Thankfully the bank was quiet.............

Davesnave

I think Exeter does 'busy,*' but most of the smaller towns are fairly normal. A few years ago, when we only got out after the snow with 48 hours to go, I imagined Sainsburys would be heaving, but there weren't even any queues. It was so different from what I was used to!

Last year, when I remarked to the check-out girl how nice it was that she didn't seem to be putting the 'advised' 20 items a minute through the till, she laughed.

"You're out of date; it's 22 now, but us don't care!"

Whether that was everyone in the store or just her wasn't clear. :rotfl:

There can be a down side to slow lane living, though. In Mole Valley last week, I waited for well over ten minutes while the check out lady advised one farmer about gates and another lady about horse feed. All I had was a bag of cat food!

* http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/tis-the-season-to-be-jolly-exeter-tops-online-spending-spree-charts-11364030233129

RAS

I remember that Christmas, Dave.

When we went to collect one elderly rellie I sat in the back of the car as "ballast". BIL could not even stand up when he got out of the car without holding onto it and even the 4 wheel drive needed several goes to get it round the bend on the hill. We spent a lot of time clearing and gritting.

And yes, you just have to get used to the different pace. Now what I will be like tomorrow traveling? Usually I am weaving round people who are oblivious to the fact that they have come to a halt right in front of the ticket barrier or escalator and are causing a blockage. Tomorrow I will try to be more aware but am sure I will do something silly.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Morning all,

I am not triping honest!!! But the rain has stopped, and there is a blue sky!!!!!!

Don't think it's going to be there long... But it is an actual blue sky nice a bright!

Hubby picked the Turkey crown up from the butchers yesterday, going to pick a nice bit of beef up from a local farm.. And then do some veg shopping etc in lidels ..even though we are going to my mums for chrimbo dinner ...I will make a dinner on boxing day too...

Got a glut of eggs, so been pickling some...so got my last lot to pickle today....the next lot can go in the incubator ..

fuddle

I'm shocked at the disrespect Davesnave and upset on your behalf that your fellow neighbours won't bother themselves to maintain what you're doing, if they have the capacity.

I am a house proud person and make good to the best of my ability, and purse strings, every home I live in - even though in private rented. I just can't fathom their mentality.

We're to brave the shops for veg later this evening. So not looking forward to it but hopefully it would have died down and er, some veg left! :eek:

Oh, to be able to just go pick. :cool:

Merry Christmas everyone

Davesnave

fuddle wrote: »

I'm shocked at the disrespect Davesnave and upset on your behalf that your fellow neighbours won't bother themselves to maintain what you're doing, if they have the capacity.

There's nothing like the disrespect there was when we came here 6 years ago. Our drive opens at the pick-up point for the black bags and recycling....and there are 15 properties to pick up from, each with 3 different containers now + the bags.:eek:

So there has to be an element of organisation, and rules....

Guess who gets to enforce them!:rotfl:The thing is, we do,whereas our predecessors let people take the mick.

It's not too bad now. By taking our fence away, putting in a little 2' hedge and adding flowers, we also 'trained' the dog walkers, whose pooches used to leave little surprises along our roadside....well, they certainly cause surprise when hit by a strimmer blade doing 9000 rpm!! :mad:

People would soon moan if the roadside wasn't cut and visiblity was reduced, but fair's fair, eh?