Yesterday we went to the local fruit farm, Malone's Fruit Farm for an open day. It was great in fairness and the weather was fantastic. They have a farm shop out there where they sell their produce and they make their own jam and chutney on site.
Yesterday they had a mini local market on along with tours of the farm by Tom, who owns the farm with his wife Elizabeth. He brought us all around the farm and explained what everything was and gave great tips on how to grow the crops. The main crops are raspberries and strawberries but they grow all sorts of unusual stuff like tayberries and loganberries.
The best part of the day was when we could buy some plants to start off our own little fruit garden. Fruit has been sadly missing up until now in our garden. I put that right yesterday and bought plenty of raspberries and strawberries. The strawberries are grown in grow bags and should last three seasons. I can however take runners or baby plants from them and I should get around 10 years from what I bought yesterday! The raspberries are not difficult at all, or so I am lead to believe. You stick them in the ground, give them some support and away you go!
I am on a bit of a fruit buzz at the moment so I am going off to rashly purchase an ice cream machine to put all this fruit to good use! I will keep you posted as to how I get on with it!
Keep some of the raspberries out of the way of the blackbirds. When I am up to visit in July I'll pick up a bottle of rum in the duty free and we'll make 'organic' raspberry mojitos!
ReplyDeleteDo ya have mint out in the herb bed?!
There isnt a sign of the raspberries yet! They would want to get a wriggle on if we are going to make the mojitos
ReplyDeleteDo you have them covered in nets? The blackberries and thrushes only love them.
ReplyDeleteI've been growing bought Strawberry plants in south East London over the last month, and due to the unseasonable heat last week they are flying along. Also a suggestion, lets see a post on dealing with slugs!
ReplyDeleteGood man Tom. You should have had them ready for wimbledon last week. you would have made a killing! Also check out the first ever post on slug control.
ReplyDelete