Gardening - trees!

[mrph]

My attitude to the garden is, generally, a fairly simple one: I want to fill it with things I can eat. And then I want to eat them.

Fond as I am of gardening, I don't actually have the motivation to stick with it unless I get some treats out of it. So fruit, veg and herbs are generally the focus of it all.

...and sooner or later, that was going to mean more trees, wasn't it? This may sound a little odd to anyone who's had to help me destroy the existing trees in the garden but, basically, they were the wrong trees and in the wrong places. The new ones will be dfferent.

More specifically, the new ones wll produce edible stuff.

I've already got a 'Vranja' quince tree which should - hopefully - start fruiting next year. The latest additions are:

• Damson - 'Farleigh'
• Apple - Peasgood's Nonsuch
• Apple - Blenheim Orange
• Apple - Orleans Reinette

...the problem with apples being that the variety I really wanted (the Nonsuch) isn't self-fertile, so multiple trees were required. Still, I've got space for them (they're all on semi-dwarfing rootstock) and they should give me a decent variety of fruit.

The choice of varieties is very much Nigel Slater's fault - 'Tender' recommends Peasgood's Nonsuch as the best apple for a great tasting cooked slush and Blenheim Orange is his preference for apple tarts (and anything else where the cooked apple needs to hold its shape). To complete the set, Orleans Reinette is meant to be a rather tasty/fragrant eating apple.

I see apple crumble in my future. :-)

As for the damson... well, frankly, if I want to eat damsons without raiding Borough Market or somewhere similar, I'm gong to have to grow my own (much like the quinces). And I quite like the idea of eating damsons now and then.

For anyone who's strugglng to picture these in my garden - apple trees down the left side, by the fence, opposite the lawn (close to the house, before the raised beds start hogging all the space). That puts them to the exposed side of the garden, but they'll just have to cope. The damson's going on the right, close to the house, sheltered from the north wind.

Of course, this does mean that it'll be a few years before I get fruit. And that if I sell up and move out before then, it's all wasted effort. But that's the nature of the thing, isn't it? If that does happen, I just hope whoever moves in appreciates them!

Comments

[kest]

Growing up our yard was full of edible things. We had grapes and a peach tree and a loquat tree and a veggie garden and pineapple guavas and blackberries and a lemon bush and a kumquat tree. I've managed to pack a fair amount of edibles on my tiny porch. I like herbs and salad veggies and I have some raspberry canes.

[davefish.livejournal.com]

Yumyum!

keris and I have definite plans for apple trees should we get a sufficient garden.

[mrph.livejournal.com]

My parents had rhubarb, apples and pears, although I don't recall much in the way of crops (apart from runner beans). My gran had everything, or at least it felt that way - mostly, though, I remember the raspberries, blackcurrants, two very productive apple trees and a decent-sized herb garden.

This year I've had pumpkins, parsnips, lettuce, chard, strawberries, gooseberries, about a million potatoes and a few beetroot, peas and lettuces. :)