The Orchard
Posted: Friday 9 June, 2006
The orchard is supposed to be my responsibility this year but I have to confess, I haven't been awfully diligent. I did start out quite enthusiastic - weeding the bases, top dressing, mulching - but it's kind of tailed off.
Fortunately, Dan has been paying more attention and noticed a heavy aphid infestation on the Victoria plum tree. This has now been treated with derris.
Two trees died over the winter and have been removed. We have one pear tree that looks quite sick but it's getting another chance.
The Victoria is covered in fruit - if you remember last year the total crop amounted to four plums. Some of the apple trees are well covered too, as is the Morello cherry. We'll see how they do as the season progresses. Dan gave them all a dose of comfrey liquid this morning, which won't do them any harm.
We will replace the dead trees but we will try to source trees more locally. I'm just off to check out Butterworth's Organic Nursery in Auchinleck. I found this in a magazine called "Reforesting Scotland", lent to us by Dan's dad. It's an old issue Summer 2001, but is quite interesting.
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Comments
Rosemary
I think that might be the way. We had a mature plum tree in the garden of a pervious house. The first year we were there, it had a fabulous crop - second year, it was something like two plums. We weren't there longer to see if the pattern repeated itself.
Anke Sieker
I can recommend Butterworths. Got my four apple trees (small ones for containers, from when we only had a city garden)from there, all of them grow well, and the trees are all used to the Scottish climate! But get your order in early, especially if you want specific small root stock, I had to wait for a year as I was too late!
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Mandy
Monday 12 June, 2006 at 1:59pm
Our plum seams to only give a decient crop on alternate years - strange that
Mandy