Sorry for the delay in responding but thanks to everyone especially Peter for the interesting link and information.

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Thanks for your reply. I have used M25 root stocks to propagate the old remnant trees that I have in one of my orchards but I have a few left over that are now growing as trees from the root stocks. I was hoping that they would be from a crab apple tree if left not grafted and I would plant them in ...

I have several M25 rootstocks that I have not grafted anything onto, if I leave them to grow what sort of apple trees would result? Are these rootstocks originated from crab apple trees or what?

Interesting you say that Geoff, because I assumed that they would be on a dwarfing rootstock since they are sold for garden planting but all of mine have grown very vigorously and I now suspect that they are on a standard tree stock, M25 or MM111. Unfortunately I have planted them all too close toge...

I am often tempted to buy apple trees from Supermarkets late in the season and I just can't resist them when priced at £4.99. Over the years I have many such trees and wonder what root stocks they are on. They must be end of season stock that are supplied to Supermarkets to get rid of but are never ...

Hello Old Herbaceous, I'm sorry that your plum tree has split, I know the feeling. I have had three of my very old apple trees split recently.

Best wishes

Barney

Lovely sight of sweet peas Geoff.

Barney

I sowed my parsnips and leeks very late due to weather and idleness and have just come in from hoeing them up. Poor germination and weak growth, they had to go. This will be the first time in nearly 50 years that I haven't grown leeks unless I reluctantly see if I can buy some young plants.

Thanks for the information and pictures pa snip, I always enjoy looking at peoples' allotments.

Thanks for the information Geoff, I spoke to a National Trust gardener who looks after fruit trees and he advised me that it should be ok unless the branches were very thick, which they are not. He explained that it would be best to concentrate the growth into the leader so I have sniped the feather...

I have an old remnant cyder orchard, most trees are very old 100+ years and hollow, but up to a couple of years ago one of my sons and his friend still managed to make very good scrumpy from them. Since then several have split or blown over and I was fortunate enough to obtain a grant to plant some ...

As long as the manure has been left to rot it will be the same as what you might buy from a garden centre but as you say, just wet. I was always taught to water (and turn) compost heaps but stack and keep manure dry until it had rotted.

Barney

My soil is cold and wet and I have not planted anything yet, except some apple trees. One of the worst Springs I can remember.

Freezing cold

Barney

Only use what is specified for a particular machine, check with a dealership. If a straight mineral oil is specified then use a straight mineral oil of the correct viscosity. Only use Extreme Pressure oil if it is specified, EP oils can cause problems such as attacking yellow metals at high temperat...

Just thought that I would share a worthwhile tip when changing oil in your cultivators etc.. http://www.fofh.co.uk/members/forum/uploaded/gshuttleton/o_1bbljss0u114gus0p2bnvp1spm7.PNG This tip saves me wasting fuel in taking sump oil to the recycling depot and therefore of course reduces green house...