A catalogue of trial, error and advice

Dustyevsky

FreeBear said:

ArbitraryRandom said: If I go for a block built thing, I'd paint it and plant something like feijoa sellowiana or actinidia arguta to grow up and soften it

Depending on where you are in the country, if you really want fruit off an actinidia, it would be better off in a greenhouse. Same for a feijoa..

 Our fejoa fruited last year outdoors at 500' in Devon. It's survived for 15 years here, because it has to! Before, we used to keep it in a courtyard pot by the boiler exhaust in a low-lying West Country city, thinking it would never cope with a tough regime.

ArbitraryRandom

Garden update after an 'extended' no-mow-may - before, after and the product (rubble to be saved for under the patio)  

FreeBear

ArbitraryRandom said:

Garden update after an 'extended' no-mow-may - before, after and the product (rubble to be saved for under the patio)  

My garden looks similar after a no-mow May & June.

Might get the mower out for the second time this year sometime in July.

ArbitraryRandom

Been a minute since I posted on here, but I've been thinking about last year - want to do a proper stock take at some point when I've the mental energy so for now a quick summary of the highlights that stand out would be: 

1. My 3 year old apple tree produced maybe 8 fully ripe apples - they were delightful and I'm looking forward to it producing more/more reliably as it matures (though they don't keep well/go a bit mealy quickly, so I'm also thinking about how I could use/preserve them) 

2. Potatoes produce more potatoes than I expected... I planted 9 pots (5 main crop and 4 earlies - I'd estimate I've been getting ~5-6 so kilos per 45L tub), and I've still got two tubs I've not tipped out; with the mild winter they're starting to put up leaves already. (speaking of - note to self: dig out the pictures from my experimental potatoes). Also, I preferred the main crop (king edwards) as more versatile. 

3. I'm not going to bother with brassicas again - it was a huge amount of work to try and keep the caterpillars away (even with nasturtiums for sacrifice) and I just don't like them that much so had to push myself to harvest them... Was nice to have a few sprouts for christmas, but going to try something else next year.

4. I was sick of courgettes when there was a glut... but then when they ended I missed having them and they were probably the 'best' harvest from the last year. Two plants is probably enough for me though. And I just need to be organised so I can chuck some in the freezer (I have them in omelettes and ratatouille so the texture isn't an issue).    

5. Growing things is fun, but now I need to actually eat the kilos of tomatoes, beans, corn, etc that are in bags in my freezer so I've space for the next lot  

Farway

ArbitraryRandom said:

Been a minute since I posted on here, but I've been thinking about last year - want to do a proper stock take at some point when I've the mental energy so for now a quick summary of the highlights that stand out would be: 

1. My 3 year old apple tree produced maybe 8 fully ripe apples - they were delightful and I'm looking forward to it producing more/more reliably as it matures (though they don't keep well/go a bit mealy quickly, so I'm also thinking about how I could use/preserve them) 

My preserving apples is either stew & freeze in pie / crumble sized portions

Or, add other fruits and make jam

Both methods work and although a bit of a faff to do the end is good come middle of winter, and you are eating summer fruit

ArbitraryRandom

Farway said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Been a minute since I posted on here, but I've been thinking about last year - want to do a proper stock take at some point when I've the mental energy so for now a quick summary of the highlights that stand out would be: 

1. My 3 year old apple tree produced maybe 8 fully ripe apples - they were delightful and I'm looking forward to it producing more/more reliably as it matures (though they don't keep well/go a bit mealy quickly, so I'm also thinking about how I could use/preserve them) 

My preserving apples is either stew & freeze in pie / crumble sized portions

Or, add other fruits and make jam

Both methods work and although a bit of a faff to do the end is good come middle of winter, and you are eating summer fruit

I think I also remember you or someone else asking me to update on what they were actually like (limelight). 

They are lovely green/yellow apples, sharp and tangy with a good crunch when fresh (but not tart). Firmly in the middle between granny smith and golden delicious. 

Within about 4/5 days lose some of that crispness and are a bit meh at 10 days. Quite big apples. 

I left one on the tree and it kept well for a couple of weeks, but then dropped (obviously one is an awful sample size)