Tee-Cee
Senior Member
I think that wet spell back in the spring probably saved much of our fruit/veg. We have had excellent yields from gooseberries and raspberries (coming to an end now) and the veg side not bad with courgettes/peas/pots/lettuce et al all doing well, to the point that we cannot keep up with it all!! Our tomatoes have started to turn red and with no blight in sight they hold promise. My wife said the flavour of those she has tried not up to the usual standard, though...
All of this is fine but it takes a lot of water to keep it all going. We had to make a decision once all our butts were empty, so it's a hose job at the moment, followed by water cans if a ban comes into force. Not idea, but seeing all that veg drop would be hard to bear.
Our apple tree is laden with fruit but I don't know if they will reach any great size, so my 'go to' supply at the end of the year may be short lived. May well end up of a size offering two bites per apple!!
(We also have shallow soil over clay which, as markg says, helps retain the water. When I think back on the amount of soil/manure we have dug into that garden, it is little wonder I have bad back!!)
ps As a matter of interest; My wife is a volunteer for the local RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and with so many horses manure supply is guaranteed, good quality, rotted down, as well as being free! These RDA schools are all over the country, so if you have one near you it's worth talking to them, as most don't know what to do with the vast quantities produced. Some have contracts with folk who take it all away, but even then they might be willing to let you help yourself to a few bags. Worth a try.......
All of this is fine but it takes a lot of water to keep it all going. We had to make a decision once all our butts were empty, so it's a hose job at the moment, followed by water cans if a ban comes into force. Not idea, but seeing all that veg drop would be hard to bear.
Our apple tree is laden with fruit but I don't know if they will reach any great size, so my 'go to' supply at the end of the year may be short lived. May well end up of a size offering two bites per apple!!
(We also have shallow soil over clay which, as markg says, helps retain the water. When I think back on the amount of soil/manure we have dug into that garden, it is little wonder I have bad back!!)
ps As a matter of interest; My wife is a volunteer for the local RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and with so many horses manure supply is guaranteed, good quality, rotted down, as well as being free! These RDA schools are all over the country, so if you have one near you it's worth talking to them, as most don't know what to do with the vast quantities produced. Some have contracts with folk who take it all away, but even then they might be willing to let you help yourself to a few bags. Worth a try.......
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