Something of a Surprise for Autumn 2017
Pomona Fruits new Autumn 2017 catalogue features two new varieties of dessert apple along with a new very early ripening plum and autumn fruiting (primocane) raspberry. Continue reading
Pomona Fruits new Autumn 2017 catalogue features two new varieties of dessert apple along with a new very early ripening plum and autumn fruiting (primocane) raspberry. Continue reading
Not only do ornamental crab apples (Malus) make perfect decorative garden trees but their fruits can be used to produce the most wonderful jellies despite their very astringent taste if eaten raw! Continue reading
Many people move to new homes where the previous owners or even the builders had planted fruit trees. In pre-war years there was often an emphasis on providing new homeowners with two fruit trees – an eating apple and a cooking apple. The reality is that these trees usually get left unpruned or get hacked about as the garden owners have no time or knowledge to manage the trees. Continue reading
There’s more than a passing nod to St. Valentine’s Day in Pomona Fruits latest catalogue. Continue reading
Mycorrhizal fungi originated at least 460 million years ago and played a key role in the evolution of plant life as we know it. However it has only been over the last 20 years that gardeners have started to understand the important role they play in healthy plant development and the ways in which they can be used to boost plant health and vitality. Continue reading
On this occasion I am not writing about growing fruit but asking you the following question – have you ever taken part in your allotment show or local horticultural society show? If you haven’t I am hoping that during the next few paragraphs I am going to be able to persuade you to have a try and at the same time I will suggest a few tips on how to best show off your produce and win a first prize. I’m writing this both as a regular exhibitor and judge. Continue reading
Many gardeners that I come across have a greenhouse of some type and generally it seems that it is used for growing plants such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and maybe melons. Indeed, one of my two greenhouses does just that! But there are alternative, fruity uses to consider which, if simple rules are followed, can be very productive. Continue reading
Not so long ago the thought of growing cherries in the garden or allotment other than as one big tree was simply a fantasy. Likewise, commercial cherry growers were finding life very difficult with their orchards of big trees and many of them gave up. Large swathes of the UK simply stopped growing this wonderful fruit. The major problem was the height of the trees which made picking very difficult and expensive as agricultural wages increased, plus the desire of large populations of birds to consume the crops before they could be picked. Continue reading
The star of Pomona Fruits Spring 2016 catalogue must surely be the newly introduced dwarf raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’. This new variety is set to be of great interest to all raspberry lovers with limited garden space as it is the first time that a dwarf plant has been offered. Continue reading
The only fruit trees that should be pruned in the winter months are apples, pears, quince and medlar. Stone fruits – plums, gages, damsons, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and sweet almonds – must never be pruned in the dormant season (October to March) to prevent possible ingress of diseases such as bacterial canker and silverleaf. Continue reading
Despite opinions to the contrary apricots can be grown in the open garden or allotment although in the colder parts of the country they are best grown under glass or a polytunnel. Before I go any further I should warn you that apricots are similar to other stone fruits in that their quality diminishes quite rapidly from the moment that they are picked and as a result they are best eaten direct from the tree although they will store for a few days – however, I can promise you that a freshly picked apricot still warm from the sun tastes absolutely nothing like those that you buy in the shops! In any case remember that apricots are good for you and that is a very real excuse for growing at least one tree! Continue reading