Most of the damage caused to bareroot plants in cold, freezing conditions is to the delicate roots themselves. The roots are fine, fibrous structures with a high water content: moving them, or even the slightest touch whilst frozen, can cause damage. Almost all of a shrub or a tree’s energy reserves are stored in the… Continue reading Freezing weather & bareroot plants
Preserved pears for Christmas
“I love being given homemade produce as a gift for Christmas and so decided to have a go myself! Sadly our fruit trees underperformed this year due to the terrible summer, but I did manage to find enough pears (Conference and Doyenne du Comice) to produce a few jars of preserved pears.” “This is an easy… Continue reading Preserved pears for Christmas
Cooking with Cider?
How about pheasant with caramelised apple and cider sauce! Ingredients (to serve 2-4) 1 pheasant 1 tbsp flour 1 onion, sliced and chopped up finely 2 garlic cloves, chopped and sliced finely 1 bottle of your favourite cider – roughly 500ml Handful of thyme 3 bay leaves Dollop of cream (optional) Seasoning ½ tsp… Continue reading Cooking with Cider?
Friendly fungi facts
Rootgrow mycorrhizae are fungi that coexist in the soil with plant root systems. They have a symbiotic relationship in which the fungi provide the host with additional water and nutrient in exchange for the plant’s waste products (mainly starches) that the fungi require to grow. Mycorrhizae grow vastly more rapidly than roots and so they can… Continue reading Friendly fungi facts
Ash Tree Dieback Disease
Ash saplings infected by the Chalara fraxinea fungus were found at Buckingham Nurseries at the beginning of 2012 Say hello to the Ash dieback fungus formerly known as Chalara fraxinea or Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus: Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The general picture twelve years on is that this rollicking, single-minded plague creeps inexorably through air, soil, and aboard insects,… Continue reading Ash Tree Dieback Disease
Best medlar jelly recipe
Well made medlar jelly is a true delight. It is beautiful to look at: amber with pink highlights and very glossy. And medlar jelly is joyous to taste; some say it is like sweet cider infused with cinnamon and a touch of allspice. Whatever your adjectives it is utterly delicious, wondrously fragrant and gives a… Continue reading Best medlar jelly recipe
Pear, Stilton and Walnut Salad Recipe
Having eaten my fair share of mince pies and all the other heavy foods associated with Christmas, I long for something light and fresh in January. Pears and walnuts make great partners in a salad and with a cheese dressing, peppery rocket leaves, spinach and watercress the combination is delicious. We always seem to have… Continue reading Pear, Stilton and Walnut Salad Recipe
Homemade Plum Chutney Recipe
Plum chutney can be made with plums or damsons and it’s a good way of using up damaged or misshapen sweet plums. If a plum is bruised, still put it all in – it makes no difference once it’s cooked. Stoning the Plums: The easy way to do this is to simmer them in a… Continue reading Homemade Plum Chutney Recipe
Brutting Hazel to Get More Nuts!
Brutting is a really simple technique to make your hazel or cobnut trees produce more nuts. It is done in August. You can do this on any type of hazel, cobnut or purple hazel. All you do is snap (but don’t break off) the ends of all the new shoots that were made this year.… Continue reading Brutting Hazel to Get More Nuts!
Trim Lavender Around Late February
This post is a bit late for getting in a February trim, but since the weather hasn’t been great this year we think your Lavender deserves a bit of a rest first (phew, I got away with that one!). Our school of thought on Lavender clipping is to do it twice a year: A light… Continue reading Trim Lavender Around Late February