Apple tree thread for Kristen

I've had a very useful EMail chat with them. Long&Short is that they don't think it will work growing Family Trees as Espalier - the "stronger" varieties would dominate. That's probably why I've never seen it done

So I'm back to one-variety-per-tree, but thinking about it my Apple Walk is 50-yards long (only planning Espalier on one side), and that's probably quite a lot of varieties. I need to dig out my file notes to see what space they used at East Ruston Old Vicarage (I remember being surprised at how far apart they were, and wondering how long it took for the side-branches to grow all that length.

 

Here's a picture of the Apple Walk at East Ruston Old Vicarage that kicked the whole idea off



and that small opening in the trees at the end is actually this:



My variation is that I want a Fruit and Nut garden (based on another favourite of mine :thumb, and this is what it looks like at present:



(picture is taken facing South) I'm thinking of a Nut Walk on the left (based on the Nut Walk at Sissinghurst) [I have already planted a Walnut and Sweet Chestnut in the hedge row] and some Espalier fruit trees on the right.

The Nut Walk at Sissinghurst is a staggered triple-row of Cob Nuts (I think) which you can wander between and provide nice shade etc here's a photo:



presumably the Nuts have to be "battered" or "bullied" or whatever the word is.

 

An apparently good name can sometimes be a disadvantage. I have 2 Morgan Sweet apples (dual purpose eating/cider) that are listed in that Welsh apple trees link Welsh Fruit Trees Online Shop and a Devon cider producer told me the name caused him a problem selling dry cider made from it.

 

Bit like the conductor on a bus that is full saying to a foreigner with reasonable grasp of English "Come on now, Get off" !!

 

Wow Kristen, What a garden

My 16 sq metres look SAD

Now I am soon to retire, I wished we lived near by, for an allotment space on your land, I would work the other six days on your plot as required

Jack McHammocklashing

 

MAD you mean eh? !!

It would be a great swap!

Discovered we had a 6" main running under the garden yesterday, its been dry here and I think we've solved that for the next week or two at least. Amazing home much bubbles up from a burst 6" main.

Right underneath a conifer, in a set of conifers that screen a slightly unsightly view.

Water-board came out promptly. "No problem Gov but I don't know how long it will be before we can get the tree bloke out to chop that down"

So I told them not to worry and that we'd take it down for them. He seemed very grateful. "Can't get anyone here today I'm afraid, it will have to be tomorrow"

I thought about whether I could buy a massive tank in time, or dig an enormous lake ...

They arrive just after midnight - that's the sort of "We'll be there tomorrow" service that you want eh?! I only discovered that when I took the dogs out for a Pee at 1am and wondered what the heck the noise was - sounded like a chieftain tank braking through the undergrowth, I thought it was someone nicking my whole vegetable patch including greenhouses! T'was just the Water Board with their mini digger. They had got the stump out already, and had a socking great hole full of water.

Anyways, made the whole crew a cuppa which they were grateful for (luck the kettle was full, they'd cut off the water by then ...)

Never a dull moment ...