Awful weather - typical Brits talk

RAS

Farway said:

RAS said:

The other trick with most varieties is to let it grow to about the height you want and then let it fruit heavily. That reduces future growth and the tree won't gain a lot more height. I've some varieties that I want to produce new growth for graft wood and they've been 1.5 metres for 5 years with little new growth because I let them fruit young. Don't try this with triploids though.

That's a very handy tip RAS, thanks for that. Thinking about it we are always told to not let young trees fruit early because it weakens them but that "problem" sounds like it can be used to our advantage once aware of it

You've got it. We are also taught to hard prune in winter, which encourages growth. Cut back in summer to control it, to about three buds.

When I say, don't try with triploids, you can but it's not as effective.

Farway

pink_poppy said:

I think I should have put some hand cream on before I took that pic 😳

On the subject of manky white blossom, I had a pyracantha in my last garden (with orange berries) and the white blossom was gorgeous when it came out, but looked horrible when it turned brown. The scent of the blossom was lovely too (when it was still white) it reminded me a bit of honeysuckle.

I also have pyracantha with orange berries, but it's blossom smells of cat pee

I wonder if they follow the same as Elders?

Some elder blossom is super fragrant, other is very cat pee like and to be avoided when making elder flower wine

Farway

Pear tree update, , delivery due before 1700 today< amazing this modern technology, even better if it's true

pink_poppy

Definitely not cat pee, we have had lots of cats and currently have a big Tom 🐈 so I know all about the smell of cat pee 😂

I never knew that about elders.

pink_poppy

Can I be a pest and post another pic??...



Should the top of my rhubarb look like this?? I’ve never grown it before and I’ve done nothing to it. Some of the sticks look quite spindly and a couple have split.

Black_Cat2

Feel free to post pics pink_p 😹

I too am growing rhubarb this year so am interested in the answer 🐈

Davesnave

Rhubarb flowers, poppy. Just cut them off. We've just done ours. Older varieties tend to do this more, but 'might' do it less if divided....and then again....they might not. Nothing else you can do now anyway, except tell it off! 

Davesnave

Was it Farway who said they couldn't get Cobea scandens to germinate?

I think the secret might be fresh seed, because100% of mine came up and they don't seem very fussy now they're in individual pots and starting to grow away. Another plug for Derry Watkins' Special Plants.....though my 'Eryngiums' look remarkably like poppies! Chances are the poppies were somehow mixed in by accident and the eryngiums aren't coming up till 2022.

Paspatur

Dave, I planted 4 and 2 have come up, purchased July 2020 and planted 3rd April 2021. Just 2 leaves and very leggy. Can I see yours please? Mine were from Seekay Horticultural. I have no idea what to do with them. Currently still in the house, greenhouse has veered between 1 and 43 this week (unheated in NE Scotland)

Paspatur

P.S. I have another 11 seeds I was going to keep some for next year, should I just sow and find a home for or give away?