|
Look out the runner beans are coming!
I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they
never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 18:57, Broadback wrote:
I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. We've been cropping them for the last couple of weeks. The freezer is already on its way to becoming full. Just wish the the frozen ones were as nice and firm as fresh beans. -- David in Normandy. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
Ours have been working overtime for a couple of weeks now, but the question
is, 'How do you freeze Runner Beans so they taste that good when thawed out and cooked later?' We will soon be having too many on a daily basis. We have tried blanching, picking young (which we do in any case), not blanching ................. every combination. Any tips please? Mike .................................................. ......................... "Broadback" wrote in message ... I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 17:57, Broadback wrote:
I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. French green beans have to be superior? Far easier to prepare and can be used in salads. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 18:09, 'Mike' wrote:
Ours have been working overtime for a couple of weeks now, but the question is, 'How do you freeze Runner Beans so they taste that good when thawed out and cooked later?' We will soon be having too many on a daily basis. We have tried blanching, picking young (which we do in any case), not blanching ................. every combination. Any tips please? Mike .................................................. ........................ "Broadback" wrote in message ... I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. Who remembers salting them down in Kilner Jars? |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Saxman" wrote in message ... On 11/08/2013 17:57, Broadback wrote: I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. French green beans have to be superior? Far easier to prepare and can be used in salads. Ah! the modern view, convenience is king - bugger the taste! Phil |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 18:52, Phil Gurr wrote:
"Saxman" wrote in message ... On 11/08/2013 17:57, Broadback wrote: I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. French green beans have to be superior? Far easier to prepare and can be used in salads. Ah! the modern view, convenience is king - bugger the taste! Phil I remember that years ago the bean to grow for freezing was Blue Lake, a stringless climbing French bean that really was stringless, good flavour and great for freezing. Still available |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
In article , david@abacus-
nurseries.co.uk says... "Broadback" wrote in message ... I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. Ours have just started; one picking so far that (only) just fed six. Lots of old flower stems with no pods :-( Who remembers salting them down in Kilner Jars? my MIL did that (in the 60's/70's) and they looked and tasted hideous. Janet |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 19:09, 'Mike' wrote:
Ours have been working overtime for a couple of weeks now, but the question is, 'How do you freeze Runner Beans so they taste that good when thawed out and cooked later?' We will soon be having too many on a daily basis. We have tried blanching, picking young (which we do in any case), not blanching ................. every combination. Any tips please? Mike .................................................. ........................ "Broadback" wrote in message ... I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. I might have a go at drying some. My mother always sliced them thin and left them on sheets of newspaper to dry in the airing cupboard until they were all shrivelled up then stored them in Kilner jars. They kept for years. They just needed soaking prior to cooking. They kept a fair amount of flavour but never quite expanded to their original size. -- David in Normandy. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"'Mike'" wrote in message ... Ours have been working overtime for a couple of weeks now, but the question is, 'How do you freeze Runner Beans so they taste that good when thawed out and cooked later?' We will soon be having too many on a daily basis. We have tried blanching, picking young (which we do in any case), not blanching ................. every combination. Any tips please? Mike .................................................. ........................ "Broadback" wrote in message ... I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. A freind of mine used to store his in brine IIRC (not frozen) Bill |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Broadback" wrote ..
I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. We don't like them frozen at all so only use what we want. We only planted half the usual number this year and still we are in a glut so next year it's half again. We can't give them away locally. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 22:50, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Broadback" wrote .. I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. We don't like them frozen at all so only use what we want. We only planted half the usual number this year and still we are in a glut so next year it's half again. We can't give them away locally. Checked my beans today, about 40 ft row, not one bean, just empty stalks, I've never had this problem before, could it be that bumble bees cant pollinate runners? I haven't seen any other bees on them, and no hover fly. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"David Hill" wrote in message ... Who remembers salting them down in Kilner Jars? My grandfather used to do this and always came round on Christmas Day with a jar as his present to us. As long as you flushed them well in cold running water for a few minutes before cooking them they weren't too bad. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"David Hill" wrote
Bob Hobden wrote: "Broadback" wrote .. I have just picked the first of my runner beans, Once they start they never stop! The freezer will be working overtime the next few weeks. We don't like them frozen at all so only use what we want. We only planted half the usual number this year and still we are in a glut so next year it's half again. We can't give them away locally. Checked my beans today, about 40 ft row, not one bean, just empty stalks, I've never had this problem before, could it be that bumble bees cant pollinate runners? I haven't seen any other bees on them, and no hover fly. Depends on the Bumblebee, I understand some of the larger ones get the nectar by biting into the stem of the flower instead of working their way into it the correct way for pollination. I've only seen Bumbles on our beans this year but we seem to have a variety of species and in large numbers too. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
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Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "David Hill" wrote in message ... Who remembers salting them down in Kilner Jars? My grandfather used to do this and always came round on Christmas Day with a jar as his present to us. As long as you flushed them well in cold running water for a few minutes before cooking them they weren't too bad. My other posting concurs with this. Bill |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 11/08/2013 23:42, David Hill wrote:
Checked my beans today, about 40 ft row, not one bean, just empty stalks, I've never had this problem before, could it be that bumble bees cant pollinate runners? I haven't seen any other bees on them, and no hover fly. It is so weird - and worrying. I've seen more bumbles than ever before this year, but hardly any honey bees. I'm seeing my neighbour at the weekend to talk about his hives (non-medical variety), but I think they suffered really badly as a result of last year's summer:( -- regards andy |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-13 16:24:52 +0100, News said:
snip It is so weird - and worrying. I've seen more bumbles than ever before this year, but hardly any honey bees. I'm seeing my neighbour at the weekend to talk about his hives (non-medical variety), but I think they suffered really badly as a result of last year's summer:( From the pov of eating honey that is a worry, I agree. But as honey bees have been subjected to all kinds of disease and pest, it's sad but not surprising that domesticating them has led to a bit of a crisis. Wild bumble bees, otoh, are just fine, if our garden and greenhouses are anything to go by and as they do just as good a job of pollination, they're a welcome sight. One I encountered late this afternoon was over an 1 1/4 inch long and made a noise like a Spitfire coming in to land! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
|
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Janet" wrote
News said: snip It is so weird - and worrying. I've seen more bumbles than ever before this year, but hardly any honey bees. I'm seeing my neighbour at the weekend to talk about his hives (non-medical variety), but I think they suffered really badly as a result of last year's summer:( From the pov of eating honey that is a worry, I agree. But as honey bees have been subjected to all kinds of disease and pest, it's sad but not surprising that domesticating them has led to a bit of a crisis. Wild bumble bees, otoh, are just fine, if our garden and greenhouses are anything to go by and as they do just as good a job of pollination, they're a welcome sight. Only, they seem not to do as good a job of pollination. Numerous posters have commented the same combination of unusual events in their garden this year; hardly any honey bees; a bumble bee population explosion, runner bean flowers failed to set. Runner beans depend on insect pollination. I'm not convinced of that, our beans are doing just as well this year as they have before and the bee keeper removed his hives from our site last autumn. It depends on the bumble species I think, if they are honey bee sized they do as good a job if they are the huge ones then they don't because they can't get into the flower the proper way. On a separate note yesterday evening I came across a huge bumble, and I do mean huge, in the flower of our hibiscus hedge on the allotment. It was absolutely covered in pollen all over and seemed to be almost drunk, it just kept stumbling around inside the flower. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-14 08:05:46 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
"Janet" wrote News said: snip It is so weird - and worrying. I've seen more bumbles than ever before this year, but hardly any honey bees. I'm seeing my neighbour at the weekend to talk about his hives (non-medical variety), but I think they suffered really badly as a result of last year's summer:( From the pov of eating honey that is a worry, I agree. But as honey bees have been subjected to all kinds of disease and pest, it's sad but not surprising that domesticating them has led to a bit of a crisis. Wild bumble bees, otoh, are just fine, if our garden and greenhouses are anything to go by and as they do just as good a job of pollination, they're a welcome sight. Only, they seem not to do as good a job of pollination. Numerous posters have commented the same combination of unusual events in their garden this year; hardly any honey bees; a bumble bee population explosion, runner bean flowers failed to set. Runner beans depend on insect pollination. I'm not convinced of that, our beans are doing just as well this year as they have before and the bee keeper removed his hives from our site last autumn. It depends on the bumble species I think, if they are honey bee sized they do as good a job if they are the huge ones then they don't because they can't get into the flower the proper way. On a separate note yesterday evening I came across a huge bumble, and I do mean huge, in the flower of our hibiscus hedge on the allotment. It was absolutely covered in pollen all over and seemed to be almost drunk, it just kept stumbling around inside the flower. We're not growing veg this year, other than potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers but we have all sizes, shapes and colours of bumbles around. In the last two or three days the Eucryphia has been a kind of high rise restaurant for them. As you walk down the path, you hear this low buzzing sound and then, as you actually get there, it's overwhelming. I've never seen so many bees in one place and it was just the same last year. There have been a few but very few honey bees and I have seen precisely one ladybird! Some of the bumbles would certainly get inside just about any flower but some, such as those over the Angelica gigas prefer those open top flowers because they're too big to get into most 'closed' types of flower. We've had a lot of bumbles in the greenhouses and garden, paying attention to the Salvias, as well. Unfortunately, we haven't - yet - seen a humming bird hawkmoth on Salvia involucrata which seems to be a major favourite. And bees do get 'drunk' - apparently lime flowers (Tilia) are particularly good for that, almost to the point where it can harm them, I was told. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-14 10:08:03 +0000, Martin said:
snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
sacha wrote:
And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. I read that, then noticed the price of cherries on Ox.St go from 2.50/lb to 4/lb in a week. :-( |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-14 22:04:00 +0100, Victoria Conlan said:
sacha wrote: And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. I read that, then noticed the price of cherries on Ox.St go from 2.50/lb to 4/lb in a week. :-( Luckily, I only buy cherries for two of us. About 400g arrived yesterday. My personal fruit bat has cleared the lot. I had 3! I'd like to find some of those big white cherries so popular in France and so rarely seen here for some reason. Trip to Riverford Farm Shop tomorrow, I think and whatever they have, I'll be replenishing our stock. It's such a short season that it's worth making the most of it, imo. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"sacha" wrote ...
Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 12/08/2013 08:47, Bob Hobden wrote:
Depends on the Bumblebee, I understand some of the larger ones get the nectar by biting into the stem of the flower instead of working their way into it the correct way for pollination. I've only seen Bumbles on our beans this year but we seem to have a variety of species and in large numbers too. We have the exact same situation. No honey bees to be seen. Plenty of bumble bees, and I watched them on the runner beans and confirmed they are biting into the base of the flower instead of climbing inside them! There is a moderate rate of setting of the flowers and I have been eating them for a fortnight, but there wont be as many to go in the freezer as last year. That said with the strange weather, most of the stuff in the garden is behaving differently to normal. Alan |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-15 08:55:53 +0100, Martin said:
On 14 Aug 2013 21:04:00 GMT, Victoria Conlan wrote: sacha wrote: And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. I read that, then noticed the price of cherries on Ox.St go from 2.50/lb to 4/lb in a week. :-( The same here. The source changed from imported to Dutch. http://www.finefoodspecialist.co.uk/...ies-1kg/1.html -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-15 10:07:33 +0100, Martin said:
On Thu, 15 Aug 2013 09:34:43 +0100, Sacha wrote: On 2013-08-15 08:55:53 +0100, Martin said: On 14 Aug 2013 21:04:00 GMT, Victoria Conlan wrote: sacha wrote: And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. I read that, then noticed the price of cherries on Ox.St go from 2.50/lb to 4/lb in a week. :-( The same here. The source changed from imported to Dutch. http://www.finefoodspecialist.co.uk/...ies-1kg/1.html Blimey! Caviar with that?! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-14 23:11:23 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
"sacha" wrote ... Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Sacha" wrote ...
Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! It keeps the trees smaller in every way except the size of the fruit. So it makes it much easier to pick the crop, the trees can be closer together, and they are just easier to deal with, prune and spray etc. We have 4 under a 6 metre long cage. If you see an old sweet cherry tree they are huge, we had one down the road, unfortunately felled to make way for housing, but it was taller than a two storey house and roof. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 15/08/2013 15:14, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-08-14 23:11:23 +0100, Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! They showed them the other week being grown in poly tunnels |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-15 16:51:53 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
"Sacha" wrote ... Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! It keeps the trees smaller in every way except the size of the fruit. So it makes it much easier to pick the crop, the trees can be closer together, and they are just easier to deal with, prune and spray etc. We have 4 under a 6 metre long cage. If you see an old sweet cherry tree they are huge, we had one down the road, unfortunately felled to make way for housing, but it was taller than a two storey house and roof. Yes indeed. All this makes me wonder why they tried to 'warn' you off them! I'll be telling the boss about these because I hope some time will be found this winter to build a fruit cage. We have to find a drier part of the field though, that's the problem. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-15 17:33:48 +0100, David Hill said:
On 15/08/2013 15:14, Sacha wrote: On 2013-08-14 23:11:23 +0100, Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... Martin said: snip After all the articles about how bad things are for farmers because of climate change, there's a farmer in East Yorkshire expecting to get his record crop of barley in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. Not sure what this has to do with the subject. And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! They showed them the other week being grown in poly tunnels I can see Ray's face now! ;-) -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Sacha" wrote
Bob Hobden said: "Sacha" wrote ... Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! It keeps the trees smaller in every way except the size of the fruit. So it makes it much easier to pick the crop, the trees can be closer together, and they are just easier to deal with, prune and spray etc. We have 4 under a 6 metre long cage. If you see an old sweet cherry tree they are huge, we had one down the road, unfortunately felled to make way for housing, but it was taller than a two storey house and roof. Yes indeed. All this makes me wonder why they tried to 'warn' you off them! I'll be telling the boss about these because I hope some time will be found this winter to build a fruit cage. We have to find a drier part of the field though, that's the problem. If you intend to get some cherries on Gisela 5 rootstock then you need to chose the variety you want and then look for it on that rootstock, we ended up having to get our 4 from 3 different places. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-15 22:52:05 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
"Sacha" wrote Bob Hobden said: "Sacha" wrote ... Bob Hobden said: "sacha" wrote ... And I read today that the cherry crop is terrific. There's a dwarf form planted in a Kent orchard yielding a terrific crop. The form is 'Gisela'. Gisela 5 is the most dwarfing rootstock for cherries, all our four are on that rootstock. Strangely Brogdale didn't want us to have the tree we ordered from them on that rootstock, they said it was too dwarfing for the garden and best for container grown trees and I had to persuade them by saying I can't do ladders. All ours are doing very well, I've had to prune them quite hard this year to keep them within their cage and we got a reasonable crop (the second year for 2 and third year for 2). Blackfly on the new growth was a serious problem this year. The orchard I read about growing these watch the ripening like hawks and move cages over the trees at the appropriate time, so the cages must be quite a size, I'd think. I don't really understand that about it being too dwarfing for the garden. Do they mean it spreads more than it rises, if you see what I mean?! It keeps the trees smaller in every way except the size of the fruit. So it makes it much easier to pick the crop, the trees can be closer together, and they are just easier to deal with, prune and spray etc. We have 4 under a 6 metre long cage. If you see an old sweet cherry tree they are huge, we had one down the road, unfortunately felled to make way for housing, but it was taller than a two storey house and roof. Yes indeed. All this makes me wonder why they tried to 'warn' you off them! I'll be telling the boss about these because I hope some time will be found this winter to build a fruit cage. We have to find a drier part of the field though, that's the problem. If you intend to get some cherries on Gisela 5 rootstock then you need to chose the variety you want and then look for it on that rootstock, we ended up having to get our 4 from 3 different places. I'm *hoping* to, but whether I'll succeed is another matter! Which did you get because you seem happy with them? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
Martin wrote:
I read that, then noticed the price of cherries on Ox.St go from 2.50/lb to 4/lb in a week. :-( The same here. The source changed from imported to Dutch. Heh, for a moment my brain went "hang on, Dutch /are/ imported!". Today I bought 1lb for 2.80, but that was Oop Norf. |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
"Sacha" wrote ((SNIP))
I'm *hoping* to, but whether I'll succeed is another matter! Which did you get because you seem happy with them? Sue only likes black cherries so that is what we went for... Lapins (Cherokee) Summer Sun Sunburst Stella -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 2013-08-16 08:06:37 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
"Sacha" wrote ((SNIP)) I'm *hoping* to, but whether I'll succeed is another matter! Which did you get because you seem happy with them? Sue only likes black cherries so that is what we went for... Lapins (Cherokee) Summer Sun Sunburst Stella Yes, the black ones are Ray's favourites, too. I'll keep that list and talk to him about it. It does all depend on someone having time to build a fruit cage. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Look out the runner beans are coming!
On 16/08/2013 08:06, Bob Hobden wrote:
Sue only likes black cherries so that is what we went for... Lapins (Cherokee) Summer Sun Sunburst Stella I love Stella (cherries) - but I'm sure my Stellas have been red for the last three years. That said, the damn pigeons get virtually all of them before they ripen. But this year I did get a handful and they seemed ripe enough and were defintely red. Maybe they go darker as they ripen more - but they don't get that far here... -- regards andy |
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