Pears are one of the most popular orchard trees worth having on any sizeable plot, both for the delicious fruit they produce and the attractive blossom. May is a good time to make sure that pollination has been successful. If your fruit has not set this season the cold weather could be blamed, frost not helping and pollinating insects are not as active during colder tempertures.
If it is a regular problem it is probably because there is not a suitable pollinating partner in the vacinaty. With the exception of “Conference” which can pollinate itself, all pears need another tree from the same pollination group nearby. This means it will be in flower at the same time and the bees can transfer pollen from one to the other with just a short flight in between. This will cause the fruit to set once it has give the fruit trees roots a generous liquid feed of a high potash fertilser, like tomato feed with added seaweed.continue reading Tend to Pears
A sheltered sunny and warm spot will encourage growth and fruiting.
Melons originate from tropical regions, but it is possible to grow them in the UK. The key to success with melons is to start them off indoors, before planting them out in late May or early June. Sow the seeds on their sides they are less likely to rot
away, (1/2″) deep in (3″) pots filled with sieved potting compost.
Put a clear plastic bag over each pot securing with string or rubber band, then place them in a sunny position. Remove the bags once the seedlings have emerged, and keep the potting compost moist but not wet.
Choosing a good site for the melons is essential, a sheltered sunny warm spot will make a huge difference to growth and fruiting. The soil should be free draining, as the tender plants hate to sit in cold wet ground. You will need to dig in well rotted homemade compost and add fertilizer to the area.
Once temperatures have increased and the risk of frost has passed you can plant the melon seedlings outside, taking care not to damage the roots. Given the right conditions the plants should start growing straight away, if temperatures are low at night cover with horticultural fleece. Once the melon plants start to flower give them a weekly liquid feed of high potash fertilizer like tomato feed with added seaweed.
All un-rotted organic material including pine needles, grass clippings, straw, hay,wood bark, shavings and sawdust should be allowed to mature well before being used as mulches, or they may rob the soil of nitrogen as they decompose.
Black plastic film A thick (400-600 gauge) film with the edges burried into the soil, will last upto three years but will deteriorate more quickly in direct sunlight.
Cardboard and newspaper Both flattened cardboard and whole opened out newspapers weighted down to keep them in place, will last for one growing season as they rot down quite quickly.
Compost A (3-5″) layer makes a good mulch, however if the compost is too fine, it may be washed away in the rain.
Grass clippings A good mulching material but make sure it is well matured, grass clippings can generate alot of heat as they rot down. Which can scorch young plants that are planted near by.
Hay Well matured hay makes a great mulch, the only disadvantage is that it tends to contain weed seeds.
Leaf Mould A (4″) layer of rotted down leaves provides a good organic barrier against weeds. When they are added to the ground in the autumn, add lots of organic matter to build up a good soil structure.
Mulch membranes Geotextiles (water and air can get through) are man made membranes that can easily be fastened to the ground with wire pegs. Lasting up to15 years when covered with an additional loose mulch. You can not plant through them though and they arethe most expensive option.
Pine needles A (4-6″) layer this acidic substance provides a good mulch around other acid loving plants.
Straw Great when well matured for use around vegetables and strawberries as it contains few weed seeds. Use a (6-8″) layer to prevent light reaching the soil.
The easiest way to turn a kitchen garden into a colourful paradise is to grow flowers along with vegetables. Many vegetables have flowers you can eat EG: beans, peas, members of the allium family ( onions, chives and leeks), brassicas, squashes, chicories, salsify, scorzonera, corn salad and many more. Herbs to such as thyme, fennel, lavender and rosemary are a rich source of flavoured blooms. Along with these add a list of edible flowering plants from the common place nasturtium to the exotic yucca and the choice is huge.
Anise hyssop
This erect branching plant boasts lovely,dense spikes of lavender flowers ( occasionally pink or white in colour) in summer up to 15cm (6″) long. Bees love it and the gentle aniseed flavour that comes from the leaves and blooms, hence it is used in cooking, salads and for flavouring drinks.
A hardy self seeding perennial dying down in autumn, it will not survive much below -5C (23F), unless it is protected. In mild climates, sow in situ in autumn, but in cooler areas start the tiny seed off indoors in spring, planting in a sunny place in early summer 45cm (18″) apart. It will flower in its first season. Cut the flower spikes as they fade to encourage a second flush. More on Eat Tasty Edible Flowers
If you are heating your greenhouse during the colder months, its a good idea to insulate it to cut down on wasted energy. Affix a layer of transparent plastic to the framework , leaving a gap of around (1 inch) 2.5cm between the material and the glass. The space creates an air pocket which reduces heat loss.
Taping a layer of bubble wrap to the frame work is another good form of insulation, but it will reduce the amount of light which enters the greenhouse, so could lead to weak and leggy plants. Consider just insulating the side which faces prevailing winds, that way you can still protect crops from the chilling weather, but adequate light should still reach them.
Before you put up insulation check that there are not any cracks or broken panes of glass, which would contribute to heat loss. Clean the panels to make sure that the maximum amount of light will enter the greenhouse, then make sure that your heater is working properly. More on Greenhouse Care
have flowers you can eat EG: beans, peas, members of the allium family ( onions, chives and leeks), brassicas, squashes, chicories, salsify, scorzonera, corn salad and many more. Herbs to such as thyme, fennel, lavender and rosemary are a rich source of flavoured blooms. Along with these add a list of edible flowering plants from the common place nasturtium to the exotic yucca and the choice is huge.
Affix a layer of transparent plastic to the framework , leaving a gap of around (1 inch) 2.5cm between the material and the glass. The space creates an air pocket which reduces heat loss.
Bloomin' Gardens
