The Poultry Keeper

Dixie Chicks · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 268 Location: Cumbria

That's a very fine apple Smile

...... what will you do with it??

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6735 Location: isle of lewis

look at it till the wind blows it off probably

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

That's a very impressive apple - may I suggest framing it? Laughing

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject:

The Edwardian/victorian gardeners were masters at cultivating hundreds of fruit varieties for all,even harsh environments and a lot of the varieties are still around its finding them.A good old fashioned fruit nursery would help, no good going to the local DIY superstore. There is a book I have somewhere amongst the mayhem with all of this stuff in but goodness knows where it is at the moment.If I can find it I will post the title here.
They were also very good at creating sheltered gardens where it was possible to grow things used to much warmer conditons all in the harshest areas of northern Scotland.
Plants are more versatile than we give them credit for and choosing the right varieties and a bit of imagination to help them thrive is all thats needed no matter where you live.
Its easy to try and make things grow and getting disilusioned when they dont as I have done in the past because I have foolishly chosen the wrong plants or wrong varieties for the conditions I have.
Its far more satisfying when you find out what plants do well in the conditions you have and plant those.Work with the plants dont impose your will,they know best Laughing

The alpine areas of Europe have some pretty harsh conditons to cope with yet the variety of plants and fruit that grow there is immense so pinch some ideas.
Polytunnels are just the bees knees for growing stuff right through the year and great for getting out of the house in the nasty winter.
Its a real buzz to produce stuff from your garden when you might have easily thought I have no chance here.

mojo · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

back from hols to a desert in the garden..........no rain again for weeks.....not a lot of veg or fruit left

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject:

ne pas l'homme avec le hosepipe maybe Laughing

a good watering and they will be fine again I;m sure Laughing

mojo · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

cant use hosepipe as we would be fined 750 euros mimimum and yes they fly helecopters over to see green patches then send the police to check ..............water is that scarce they are talking about having 3 hours on 3 off for water supplies..........just have to drink more wine.ooooooohhhhhhhhhh dear what a shame

poultry poofs · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject:

750 euro's Shocked

bring on the desert and the wine Laughing

be like that here if our water companies carry on the way they do Twisted Evil

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

We've had a hosepipe since ....... have a guess ........ February! I suppose it will go on all through winter and then all through next year.

Dixie Chicks · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 268 Location: Cumbria

No hosepipe bans up here but we are on a private water supply and our spring is currently just managing to trickle at the moment. It wasn't the hot weather that did it last month, it was the constant windy weather last week that has dried the ground rock hard everywhere and even the normally lush green fell tops are looking decidedly brownish.

It is mizzling now but I shall look forward to some rain soon so I can use the washing machine, flush the loo (without a bucket) and have a decent bath! It is amazing how frugal you can be with water if you try!

Has autumn arrived elsewhere too? Our rowan berries are reddening and the leaves are just beginning to take on the autumn hues. It's my favourite season so I'm not complaining Smile

!

CP · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:22 pm Post subject:

Absolutely tipped it down on Sunday, & the mud patch is now beginning to take on the meagre appearance of grass again.
But we really need that every day for a month to have any lasting effect. Shocked

Nothing Autumnal here yet, but it won't be long I suspect as the nights are drawing in quite alarmingly! Shocked

debcat · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject:

you can all have some of our rain Laughing

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Very Autumnal here - I made poor Heather sit shivering in my garden until late Saturday night, I'm a terrible host Twisted Evil

It really has got that 'nip' in the air that tells you Autumn is coming. I even had to put the heating on for half an hour yesterday, just to take the chill off Shocked

Now I've said that, we'll probably have a heatwave in September Laughing

nigel · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:47 am Post subject:

No hosepipe bans here. It was very dry, but over last week had several heavy showers. The paddocks are greening up lovely for the geese and sheep next spring

poultry poofs · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject:

Dont forget the bees too Nigel Laughing