It's a good job we haven't got many neighbours. There would have been some twiching of curtains tonight if we had, as I trapes down the pitch black garden carrying a spade. I then proceeded to dig a hole in the dark. |
| Some Damsons from my fathers farm - It was better than a picture of me digging in the dark! |
On Monday I collected the last of my trees I've ordered. A couple for my mother - a mulberry and a humbug pear, and a couple of damson trees for our little homestead here. The hole was to heal them in as unfortunatly I haven't managed to plant a single tree yet, the ground is just too wet.
When added to the other order I've three damsons to be planted in total and three different varities: King of the Damsons, Langley Bullace and Merryweather.
My parents farm (where I grew up) had a little old damson orchard and I've always loved the fruit. When I was younger my sister and I would pick and sell carrier bags full of them making extra pocket money. I still love making rock hard damson jam as well (easily my favourite jam) so I'm hoping in a few years we'll be able to make our own and maybe my daughter will be able to sell bags of damsons as well.
I was able to prune the peaches and transplant 8 chickasaw plums and 16 grapes before it got muddy. I would be out of luck right now as it is either muddy or frozen. Only about a month until spring and maybe it will dry out some then.
ReplyDeleteThe chickasaw plums are something I've not heard of - do they taste good? I want to plant some grapes at some point but it's so wet here I don't think there is much point at the moment!
DeleteAll of my fruit trees are heeled in too, still too wethere as well but given that buds are breaking all around the farm I think I will have to risk planting them soon
ReplyDeleteMade me smile to think of neighbours watching you carry a roll of trees down the path with a spade and start digging :)
I think you'll be alright upuntil march as we keep having these cold snaps but the sooner the better really.
DeleteI've just been ploughing through 'The Soporano's' dvd's so if I had seen you in the garden, in the dark digging a hole I would have wondered. lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
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I've a funny story about a fancy dress party where I dress as tony soporano and no one got it. It was an embrassing night! Most of the trees I planted last year I did in the dark. Theres a fair few holes dug by torch here!
DeleteDigging in the dark invokes images of Maggie Smith in Keeping Mum (for anyone who has not seen the movie, it s very funny).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posts, I think at this time of year most of us need motivate to get out in the garden this time of year (I live outside of Vancouver BC and our weather is similar to yours).
I ve started some seeds indoors and need to get outside soon.
Sharon weebreezefarm@blogspot.com
I need to get sowing some seeds as I'm behind on that front. Normally all my tomatoes are coming up by now!
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