"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
In article ,
says...

"Rhiannon_s" wrote in message
...

"Pat Gardiner" wrote in message
...
After nearly ten years, I'm planting the last wall in the walled
garden.

You can see the garden on
http://www.go-self-sufficient.com/photowalledg.htm

You can see the north wall at the far right, the inner side has the
peaches
apricots, and sweet cherries.

The outer north facing surface has been cleared of vegetation and I
have
planted three damsons (that I know do well on a north wall) and I have
two
more spaces.

My problem is that makes five different damsons and two pairs Morellos
and
Nabelas already.

It there another sharp cherry that would do OK on this wall? Is there
any
other fruit that might thrive? I'm stumpted.



Japanese Quinces might do ok there. I've seen them growing in similar
and
they make good jam.

Thanks for that. I have a couple of Serbian quinces, but once long ago,
we
did have Japanese quinces under the south facing windows - and very nice
they were too. Pretty flowers and very flavoursome fruit. That was in a
sun
trap and on "sandlings" soil.

I checked Japanese quinces and they seem to indicate that full sun is
needed
and that they are between 1/3 metres tall. The wall is about 4M and, will
of
course, be in full shade.

On the basis that you will never know if you don't try, unless anyone has
any more ideas....



If you planted two and depending on what part of the country your wall is
in then Akebia quinata or Akebia trifolia will both grow and fruit on a
north wall but fruit production seems to require hand pollination or is
unreliable in the UK. similarly Holboella latifolia (here I found the
fruit very attractive to look at but a bit insipid to taste)
You may also consider Lapageria rosea although again you would need two
genetically different plants and although the goosberry sized fruits are
lovely they contain around 100 seeds which T&M can charge more than a
pound per seed for, which may put you off eating them!

I'm in East Anglia on clay with a good admixture of lime. So, I would have
to change the soil for Lapageria rosea and it seems that although they would
like a sheltered wall, north sounds a bit dodgy. But you have attracted my
interest. I'm reorganising my tunnels with raised beds and could fill one
with ericacious soil, for this plus some extra blueberries and cranberries.
Which reminds me, the dog pulled out 20 brand new cranberry plants last
year. I'm going to plan some of last years berries and hope for some plants.

Seeds are dear. I get mad over staples like melons and cucumbers being so
expensive.

Akebia quinata or Akebia trifolia both seem to be a bit tender for the site
and is the taste that good?

Thanks anyway. I'm keeping working on this. There must be something. Keep
the ideas coming!


--
Regards
Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Pat Gardiner wrote:

I'm in East Anglia on clay with a good admixture of lime. So, I would
have to change the soil for Lapageria rosea and it seems that
although they would like a sheltered wall, north sounds a bit dodgy.

Not at all. If there is one thing Lapageria hates it is sun. I grow mine
(in a 40cm pot) on a north-west facing wall under a verandah, protected from
south and south-west sun by a garage wall. It only ever gets any sun for a
couple of hours or so in the afternoon/evening from late May through to late
July - and doesn't like it. It is still in flower (started early July 2007,
but usually doesn't start until mid-late August). In the 2006 - 7 flowering
season, there were around 300 flowers in total. As each one lasts in excess
of 3 weeks, that isn't bad going. It most certainly would be in my top 10
flowering plants.

The only thing I would be worried about is a bad frost. Not sure how bad it
has to be to cause severe damage (perhaps Charlie P. can advise on this),
but as Lapageria is pretty slow to establish and get going, you really don't
want to lose any of it. Also, as you have stated, you would have to change
your soil. Either that or grow it in a large pot. But although it has
fairly tough leaves, I don't think it is too keen on a dry atmosphere. And
as you live in East Anglia...

As a suggestion, and although a north-facing wall may not exactly suit it,
how about trying Decaisnea fargesii for a bit of fun? Not too difficult
from seed.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

In article ,
says...
Pat Gardiner wrote:

I'm in East Anglia on clay with a good admixture of lime. So, I would
have to change the soil for Lapageria rosea and it seems that
although they would like a sheltered wall, north sounds a bit dodgy.

Not at all. If there is one thing Lapageria hates it is sun. I grow mine
(in a 40cm pot) on a north-west facing wall under a verandah, protected from
south and south-west sun by a garage wall. It only ever gets any sun for a
couple of hours or so in the afternoon/evening from late May through to late
July - and doesn't like it. It is still in flower (started early July 2007,
but usually doesn't start until mid-late August). In the 2006 - 7 flowering
season, there were around 300 flowers in total. As each one lasts in excess
of 3 weeks, that isn't bad going. It most certainly would be in my top 10
flowering plants.

The only thing I would be worried about is a bad frost. Not sure how bad it
has to be to cause severe damage (perhaps Charlie P. can advise on this),
but as Lapageria is pretty slow to establish and get going, you really don't
want to lose any of it. Also, as you have stated, you would have to change
your soil. Either that or grow it in a large pot. But although it has
fairly tough leaves, I don't think it is too keen on a dry atmosphere. And
as you live in East Anglia...

As a suggestion, and although a north-facing wall may not exactly suit it,
how about trying Decaisnea fargesii for a bit of fun? Not too difficult
from seed.


I Certainly would only use north walls for Lapageria unless walls facing
West could be provided with summer shade from trees etc. but they don't
like soil that is alkaline and do like high humidity, frost on a suitable
wall is not too much problem (I know several people growing them outside
in East Scotland) but you are correct in saying they are slow, we do not
let them go until they are 5-7 years old and even then I would grow on
for a further 3-4 years before planting out anywhere other than ideal.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Oooooooooh I do like a good conspiracy site :-)

"Granity" wrote in message
...

Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com


Oooooooooh I do like a good conspiracy site :-)


You can never tell how these things affect even gardening.

Believe it or not, according to the animal disease regulations, we were not
allowed to put kitchen waste on a compost heap, because we kept pigs.

Pigs are not allowed kitchen scraps in case meat is included.

We had to have another separate kitchen (we put one in the garage) to
prepare vegetables only and these could go on a compost heap. Waste from the
kitchen had to go into the bin.

We were minding our own business one day in the garden - and all hell broke
loose.

We caught one of the most senior government vets faking up a blood test on
our backyard pig in the middle of an epidemic. What happened then was quite
extraordinary. You see these senior government vets on TV - I have had them
in my drawing room threatening my wife.

However, we have thoroughly caught those beggars at Westminster hiding up an
epidemic. The epidemic that was to lead to MRSA spreading around the world.

Alas, conspiracies do exist. I think they get away with it because most
people not unreasonably, think "They wouldn't do that!"

All together, after me..."Oh, yes they would!"

Gardening needs to be very cautious and suspicious.

Now, to avoid disrupting the peaceful pursuit of planning for garden 2008, I
suggest we take this conversation to ukba, where I will tell you just how
evil Britain's government vets are, how I singlehandedly got the EU Fraud
Squad (OLAF) to raid a British government office and why Britain's pigs are
spreading MRSA to people.

Regards
Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com




--
Granity