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After getting an unexpected taste for 'growing my own' last year, I'm ramping it up this time around - swapping one of the two tomatoes for a cucumber and adding spuds, carrots, peas and lettuce into the mix. My logic is if I try that many in one go, I'm bound to get at least one of them right!



Two reasonably sized pots that might become home to the cucumber and tomatoes, depending on the grow-bag/space in the greenhouse situation, two whoppers for the carrots, some Maris Piper seed potatoes to go with the Jazzy's that have already gone way ahead of me (hence the fleece) and an entry level heated propagator to give me half a chance of getting off to a good start.

Bargain of the day, the cut and come again lettuce seeds I got out of the reduced bin at Dobbies. I didn't ask any questions when the lady at the till told me they 25p rather than the 50p it said on the bin!

 

@Moley nice purchases. I have several of those domed 1020 flats and 7on Wednesday am picking up a new 24x48 heat mat for some of them. It's exciting seeing your seeds grow

I just ordered a water level minder that I plan to fit to my capillary watering set up. I think it operates on water level/pressure so it will he interesting for me as I would probably want to figure out a way to duplicate it less expensively for my own use in another area.

 

Do you think another one would be better? These are the conference pears from tesco....for espaliers.

 

Snorky, honestly? Only one would be better. It's a bit like planting several roses of the same variety!!
Why? Another variety or 2 would help pollination. You will get sick of conference pears.....another variety or more will spread the fruiting or at least the taste.
I allow 10'....300 cm .....apart for espaliers.
Ideas? Maybe an apple espalier too? Maybe cordons?....these would be spaced a metre apart and produce lots of fruit plus you could have several varieties.
Beurre Hardy is a delicious pear, has good disease resistane, will pollinate Conference and has good autumn colour. Winter Nellis too is a good pear for training.
Or, research pears you like that are compatable to your area and growing conditions

 

Ah thanks @Verdun Well I've got them now so will see what happens I guess. Luckily we've got some piggies living next door (I don't mean the neighbours ha ha) and they can have excess. I thought it would be good to give it a go with minimal loss.

 

Snorky, you can return them. 4 or 5 conference pears wont help pollination....... Not really a good idea but

 

@longk what do you have to do to get these to flower again ?

 

If you mean Cymbidiums in general they need exposure to cold in autumn/early winter. Best kept cool thereafter - 10°c or so is close.

 

It's good that you will have someone right next door to share your future crops.

I actually like the idea of having the trees uniform along that side. Maybe it's a bit of my OCD showing but to me it is the perfect spot for it. You stand a chance of having a nice even privacy screen.

 

Argh now I'm not sure. I'm like Lori, I like uniformity but now the doubt is creeping in.

 

Well, are you growing them for their fruit and want a variety or is it how they shape your landscape/view?

I'd think that would be the deciding factor maybe?

 

"Uniformity" is fine....a line of espaliers is fine. Just not one variety times 4 or 5. It doesnt make any sense to me when designing from the outset. You could have 5 different fruit options of apples and pears???
A choice of pears will give the same visual aspect as one variety 5 times over!

 

Did Tesco have any other kinds of pears? Another variety would look uniform until just at the last part of fruiting.

 

Lori is right - it's not actualy for the fruit - I wanted it to look uniform and just have a bit of fun trying to do the espalier. Tesco's didn't sell any other types of pears.

I've decided to throw caution to the wind and just go with what I've got. (although I am grateful for the advice and input). It's not like me to say "bu**er it" and just do it...but today I feel like being different.

Found out earlier that we can no longer buy the 3 acre field we were after and I'm GUTTED!!!! boo hoo. -that's a recent NON-purchase