Awful weather - typical Brits talk

pink_poppy

I would say Cox is (or was) my favourite apple, twopenny, but I've noticed the ones in the supermarkets just don't taste the same as they used to. I like Russets too. And lightly stewed Bramley. Yum.

I watched the GW episode that YBE mentioned and am wondering if I can try the stepover apple trees to get around the annoying covenants here. Just need to get on top of the garden before I attempt anything like that, which I should be able to do in the next few weeks, fingers crossed... I'll also be looking to get some seed potatoes - any recommendations?? We usually boil potatoes (Charlottes or similar) or make wedges here. I've got some Maris Piper that I can try to chit??

It sounds like you've been a busy bee, taff. I think we have a heuchera in the garden - kind of an acid green colour if it is heuchera.

We had heavy rain overnight, but it's looking fairly bright out there at the moment.

YoungBlueEyes

Pp what do your covenants say exactly? Would you be allowed to grow a little apple tree up a trellis in a pot maybe? As for tatties I would just grow whatever the last ones you ate that made you go "jeez they're good, I could eat a bucketful of them". Not that they'll come out exactly the same but they'll probably be close enough   

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

Pp what do your covenants say exactly?

And who benefits from them? I know the Scottish legal system's different, but the same principle applies, that it's often possible to ignore petty legal stuff, as the cost/trouble of enforcement may outweigh any advantage to the beneficiary. There's a heap of difference too in planting a small tree on a dwarfing rootstock, and bunging-in a dozen Leyland cypress or even a 'normal' Bramley.

Dustyevsky

A little more wet stuff overnight, but it's pleasantly warm, if a little dull. Drunks say, “No blue sky for you!” but that's not true at present.   The mini flood on the road receded yesterday, Bluey, and to be fair, the council did the drains a short time ago....just not well enough!

My knees objected to heavy work by yesterday lunchtime, and I'd not done much. :'( So, in the afternoon, I potted up many of the toms that had done the usual thing and gone leggy. They're 4 to a pot until they grow proper leaves.I think you'll be able to read the labels if you open in a new window. If any of my labels say "ex" it means the seeds were collected by me and open pollinated, not bought-in F1 etc.

pink_poppy

I actually came across the solicitor's letter yesterday when I was looking for something else. I didn't have a proper look, but there were at least 18 'burdens' as they were called. Interestingly, some young neighbours have recently hoiked out some shrubs (including a couple of beautiful ones ) that they probably shouldn't have, but to be honest I think we should be allowed, within reason, to change things. I'll have a closer look at the solicitor's letter in the coming days, but I've got work today, a sad day tomorrow and then work for the rest of the week.

YoungBlueEyes

Post your question on the house-buying board pp, but fetch your paperwork out first cos the first thing they'll ask you is exactly what do your covenants say. There's lots of clever people over there. Oh and mention that you're on Scotland just in case it makes a difference. 

Your turn with the tom forest this year then Dusty! 

Drunkards etc gave me the blue sky for today so I made a shopping list and put my wash out and now it's bladdy raining Damn dirty trick imo when you've a line full of jeans and thick stuff.

Slug update - they're refreshing themselves with cider and then doing fancy chompings. Windmills mostly, like this - 

Farway

YoungBlueEyes said:

Edit - not to do Farway out of a job but Arb's orangepippin link above has a bare root sale on and this is the last week  

Ooh, I had a look, very tempting isn't it? I may pop back later, get thee behind me Blue & Arbs. BTW T & M free P & P extended 24 hours.

Drizzle right now, despite dry & dull forecast. Usual standard.

I remember reading about the lost Cox taste, over breeding or summat. I wonder what the taste of the Isaac Newton apples is? Never mind, just looked it up, a late, poor cropping sour cooker. Flower of Kent. I'll pass on that.

pink_poppy said:

I watched the GW episode that YBE mentioned and am wondering if I can try the stepover apple trees to get around the annoying covenants here. Just need to get on top of the garden before I attempt anything like that, which I should be able to do in the next few weeks, fingers crossed... I'll also be looking to get some seed potatoes - any recommendations?? We usually boil potatoes (Charlottes or similar) or make wedges here. I've got some Maris Piper that I can try to chit??

Step over apples should be a doddle, I started some after seeing them at Wisley ages ago, but back & bending troubles put paid to the idea and I went for espalier, but bend overs step overs are only low espaliers

If you like Charlottes, grow them, I have & used ordinary ones from Lidl. Top Tip, if you use ones from SM some have growth inhibitors on them, to stop them sprouting, the Lidl ones and maybe others don't.

I did try Jerseys but failed, seems they are more difficult, hence price in the shops I guess.

Dustyevsky said:

My knees objected to heavy work by yesterday lunchtime, and I'd not done much. :'( So, in the afternoon, I potted up many of the toms that had done the usual thing and gone leggy. They're 4 to a pot until they grow proper leaves.I think you'll be able to read the labels if you open in a new window. If any of my labels say "ex" it means the seeds were collected by me and open pollinated, not bought-in F1 etc.

Snap on Sungold & Veranda red. Mine are about the same stage of growth, very overcrowded but not yet leggy.

Managed to get a pic of Jetfire daff, one living up to its name

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Dustyevsky said:

My knees objected to heavy work by yesterday lunchtime, and I'd not done much. :'( So, in the afternoon, I potted up many of the toms that had done the usual thing and gone leggy. They're 4 to a pot until they grow proper leaves.I think you'll be able to read the labels if you open in a new window. If any of my labels say "ex" it means the seeds were collected by me and open pollinated, not bought-in F1 etc.

Snap on Sungold & Veranda red. Mine are about the same stage of growth, very overcrowded but not yet leggy.

Managed to get a pic of Jetfire daff, one living up to its name

Pretty Jetfire.  It's the other one I'd use, if only DD's employers stocked them. Maybe they do, but there aren't any left beyond the sell-by date!  

Veranda Red was the tom the RHS was growing in tubs at Rosemoor last year. The Sungold are  compulsory here, and the "ex-Sungolds" are for friends!

Farway

Dustyevsky said:

Farway said:

Dustyevsky said:

My knees objected to heavy work by yesterday lunchtime, and I'd not done much. :'( So, in the afternoon, I potted up many of the toms that had done the usual thing and gone leggy. They're 4 to a pot until they grow proper leaves.I think you'll be able to read the labels if you open in a new window. If any of my labels say "ex" it means the seeds were collected by me and open pollinated, not bought-in F1 etc.

Snap on Sungold & Veranda red. Mine are about the same stage of growth, very overcrowded but not yet leggy.

Managed to get a pic of Jetfire daff, one living up to its name

Pretty Jetfire.  It's the other one I'd use, if only DD's employers stocked them. Maybe they do, but there aren't any left beyond the sell-by date!  

Veranda Red was the tom the RHS was growing in tubs at Rosemoor last year. The Sungold are  compulsory here, and the "ex-Sungolds" are for friends!

It was the RHS tubs pic you took that prompted me buying seeds . Likewise, Sungold goes on & on here, self saved seeds

I had a job finding Jetfire, and had to buy posh bulbs at higher cost. Lesson for this year, grab 'em when you see

'em

Off to sort out my collection of loo roll innards for the bean sowing sometime soon

YoungBlueEyes

Ooh your Jetfire are good looking eh Farway, I want some of those now too. Also - they’re well named, I get it now  

My Aldi only has planters and baskets of homesick Norwegian pansies and violas, whereas Lidl had a box of fruit trees - £12.99 They’re a few feet tall, bare root, and all there was left was a Golden Delicious and a something plum, both of them had long since given up pining and were half way across the fjords. 

I mention it in case anyone fancies one after all the talk of them, and your stores may be more fruitful.