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...

Moles have become a complete menace since the ban on strychnine poison. I trapped 23 moles last year in a 3 acre orchard which adjoins a wood where the moles come from and I know of no deterrent that works. Anyone that discovers a reliable deterrent method would become very rich indeed. As soon as I...

I am very sorry to read about your son's problems oldherbaceous and you and all of your family do have my sympathy. I have no knowledge of the condition but hope that your son can get the appropriate help and support. Seventeen years ago my youngest son was knocked from his bicycle by a drunk driver...

The description of the scrapes for their excrement confirms for me and as oldherbaceous stated it is badger activity.

Barney