Hello dear friend,
Today, the first fruit trees have arrived!
Here's today's snippet from the diary I've been keeping since moving here:
I've cleaned the front ornamental tree a bit by cutting some big branches and small shoots. It should be able to breathe better when in leaf since is not as congested. I am considering removing it completely but since there are not many trees on the property at the moment, we will keep it to provide some wind barrier and shelter for birds (although I haven't seen any on this one). I used the cut branches to form the outline of the future greenhouse.
First fruit trees to be planted in the upcoming food forest have arrived today (after some issues with the delivery yesterday)! A quince, a pear, and a plum. ๐ค๐๐ค
They are currently hidrating (in water, with the soil they came in, and some leaves on top) until tomorrow when I will plant them (fingers crossed the weather will be pleasent). I removed some of the broken twigs which occurred, I suspect, during transportation/packing.
I purchased them from @rootsplantsuk, if anyone is interested.
I prepared the soil in the holes again so they will be ready for tomorrow. I think I know where I will put each tree. The quince was really the only one I wasn't decided about yet since I had planned to put it in the front garden. I think it will go in the back garden, close to the blackcurrant bush, by those ornamental trees (I'm calling ornamental each tree I do not know and which doesn't fruit). We are thinking to put the compost bins there as well so I'm thinking the perfume of the quince flowers and of the fruits might help with the smell which might occur there in time. I removed quite a few more stones and some broken pieces of pottery and glass yet again when loosening the soil in those holes. Hopefully, the trees will do well there. Another reason why I'm thinking to plant the quince there is because it looks slightly less vigorous than the other two trees and that spot is in less wind (although the most protected space would have been by the hedge/apple tree, but plums get messier when ripe, and I think the plum tree won't cast as much shade as a quince tree, although I could be wrong, so the spot was taken).
(Here pictured is the spot for the pear tree)
Currently browsing the Pomona Fruits catalogue.
Looking at the catalogue, I think our apple is called SUNSET. It is written that this variety is similar to Cox but easier to grow and suitable for the north of the country; crisp, aromatic and intensely flavoured. The photo looks very similar to the apples we picked in the last few weeks, hence what makes me believe this is what we have in our garden.
Thinking to purchase a family tree (3 varieties grafted onto it - to which I can add after more varieties) and put it by the other apple (I'm going to call it Sunset from now on). It would have room to grow there, although the area is somewhat shaded by the larger trees. But sheltered by the hedge, it would be a great spot to use for this, and I think wise also to invest in an apple with multiple varieties which will need more room to grow perhaps, compared to other trees.
I still plan to keep the trees low for easy picking and to plant underneath them other stuff as well, in the Paul Gautschi style.
It's raining now so I just went outside and moved the bucket with trees behind the woodchip bag (which is currently more than halfway filled with leaves). I don't know how windy it will get tonight, I hope the bag will provide some shelter and the trees will be OK until I put them in the ground.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this. Maybe it will inspire you to grow a fruit tree, or two, or more.๐
Best wishes,
Crina.
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