The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

Silvertabby

“ I don't have a problem with splitting cherries - the blackbirds have them away long before they get to that stage !
Originally posted by Silvertabby ”

-taff wrote: »

black cherry tomatoes

Oops - thank you !

I tried black cherry toms a couple of years ago - and have to say that we weren't overly impressed by the taste. I bought grafted toms 'tutti fruiti' from Suttons last year - and they were yum. I've just ordered some more plants for this year (although I accept that buying grafted tom plants isn't particularly MSE !)

Living_proof

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

http://http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/forums/t/28136.aspx this link to the RHS forums is quite interesting. In summary they suggest late fruiting pear, plum or morello cherries. My neighbour has around 4 morello cherry trees facing NE and we had to send in a team to pick as there were so many last year. What a treat! It makes fab jam

Thank you Suffolk lass, a very interesting couple of responses there. I will have to check what blossoming dates are. It is such a waste of a big blank wall otherwise!

Living_proof

Scottish_Mike wrote: »

I’m going to recommend a quince tree.

Thanks Scottish Mike, I had been considering quince as they are such an unusual choice. I find I can get tonnes of apples each year for drying by just asking on Freecycle so they are last on my list at the present time.

unrecordings

I got out and cleared some leaves today and started pruning my overgrown winter savory that didn't get done in the autumn. I also repotted a couple of chinese mahogany seedlings (beef & onion plant if you're a Suttons customer) - still not tried any yet just in case it reacts with the chemo. I'm also planning on trying to weave some old/leggy sage plants round a pole to see if they like that (and/or it looks less messy)

Karmacat

unrecordings wrote: »

... started pruning my overgrown winter savory that didn't get done in the autumn. ...

I don't know anyone else that has winter savory! And I've never pruned it in fact a few years ago I let it get so overgrown it nearly died. It came back very strong when I cleared the ground around it, but it needs more work right now. Any tips, unrecordings?

unrecordings

Karmacat wrote: »

I don't know anyone else that has winter savory! And I've never pruned it in fact a few years ago I let it get so overgrown it nearly died. It came back very strong when I cleared the ground around it, but it needs more work right now. Any tips, unrecordings?

I found some in a garden centre just marked "Savory" - Must be Winter Savory because it's still here 3-4 years later. I Used to cut it back once it had flowered and/or the leaves were no longer a lush green. There are lots of long brown stalks where it flowered last year so I'm cutting those right back to a point on the stalk with some new growth - might not necessarily be the right way, but seems to work for me. I might have to see what Jekka says (in her book) and post an update later

Karmacat

If it works for someone "known" on here, thats good enough for me, many thanks I'm just about to deal with the bramble roots in that region, the savory will be a lot happier then, I think

unrecordings

Karmacat wrote: »

If it works for someone "known" on here, thats good enough for me

I've 'arrived' :beer:

I checked Jekka and she says very little about maintaining savory apart from the usual thing of picking it before it flowers for best flavour. So if you cut back straight after flowering I assume you should get another growth of fresh leaves before winter. This afternoon after checking over the fresh growth I just took some shears to them (where they lean over towards the evening sun) and carefully pruned out the leggier stems on the top & other side of plant back to a nice set of fresh shoots - but not too close - erring on the side of caution in case of a heavy frost

Mnd

I got the sprouts out, still too wet to do much, lifted the swede crop, I tennis ball size and 2 golf balls!

That will keep us going!:rotfl:

Suffolk_lass

unrecordings wrote: »

I've 'arrived' :beer:

I checked Jekka and she says very little about maintaining savory apart from the usual thing of picking it before it flowers for best flavour. So if you cut back straight after flowering I assume you should get another growth of fresh leaves before winter. This afternoon after checking over the fresh growth I just took some shears to them (where they lean over towards the evening sun) and carefully pruned out the leggier stems on the top & other side of plant back to a nice set of fresh shoots - but not too close - erring on the side of caution in case of a heavy frost

I was fiddling about on the RHS site and so checked there and apart from removing woody bits and spent stalks there was no formal pruning guidance so I am sure the shears are a good idea - it works for geraniums!