Fruit trees and orchards

[tree-fancier123]

some people get obsessed - think this was posted before, from a 2013 newspaper

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2437247/250-varieties-apple-tree--thanks-bit-hard-grafting-years.html

[Mark2]

Trigger you could thin out some of that new 2year growth, that lets light in down below the main canopy, too many trees have a ‘thatch on top, shading and killing lower fruit buds. There’s a couple of good tests—— you should be able to throw a tennis ball through the tree, or a black bird should be able to fly through it ! The one I like is—- you should be able to grab ya mate! and shove his head and shoulders into the tree! I’m from Somerset  we’re a bit odd like that !!!

[trigger_andy]

1 minute ago, Mark2 said:

Trigger you could thin out some of that new 2year growth, that lets light in down below the main canopy, too many trees have a ‘thatch on top, shading and killing lower fruit buds. There’s a couple of good tests—— you should be able to throw a tennis ball through the tree, or a black bird should be able to fly through it ! The one I like is—- you should be able to grab ya mate! and shove his head and shoulders into the tree! I’m from Somerset  we’re a bit odd like that !!!

Cheers.   I'll do that.

 

[Mark2]

Conor you’v got a lovely project going there ! To add to your list ... edable wild plants ! I’v got a friend who pretty much lives on them, best eating I ever tasted ! She won’t touch tap water just spring, she’s got ten times more energy than me. Spend hardly any money on shopping! Sounds good to me.

[Conor Wright]

It's slow progress!, only  bought it earlier this year but already have about 70% of our own veggies, a few wild edibles we've discovered, sorrell, some edible fungi, we've dried our own chamomile, nettles, lime leaves for infusions. Tansey and nettle "potions" for plant fertiliser..

we got a couple of beehives, could start a thread on bees too, if one doesnt already exist on here?

[Mark2]

Tree fancier! Thanks for that link, it just shows what can be done, now’s a good moment to put my cards on the table having done the big trees in my life, and slowing down now ! This fruit thing is keeping me going. I do fruit tree pruning workshops plus ocasonaly ditto grafting! Plus private trees / orchards and a couple of big big cider orchards. Absolutely love it!

[Mark2]

Conor my fav is wild garlic ! add it to most meals and it’s pure essence of woodland!

[tree-fancier123]

drawing from my secondhand copy of Brickell: Pruning and Training shows sorting out a neglected tree, although leggy ones trying to reach the light will be harder to work with

[Conor Wright]

15 minutes ago, Mark2 said:

Conor my fav is wild garlic ! add it to most meals and it’s pure essence of woodland!

Have yet to find any around home. Don't think we are lucky enough to have it but we have some organic varieties overwintering in straw covered outdoor drills.. Also a few I've tried to trick by putting them in the fridge for a fortnight then planting to the tunnel. Can you direct me towards a reliable source of nut bearing trees, please?!

[Mark2]

Tree-fancier this look’n good thanks for that !

we mentioned thinning out water shoots! Don’t forget to leave a 2-3 inch stub on those cuts this encourages the formation of new fruit Spurs / buds.