Pears ripen when picked.
pears-picked-Conference
Pears will ripen
When is the right time to pick pears?
picking-pears
Pears should never be allowed to ripen on the tree because:
Pears ripen best off the tree.
Pick pears when they are:
ready to come away from the tree with a slight twist & lift. If the fruit does not come off easily, the pears are not ready to pick.
pick-pears
The Greengage (Prunus domestica or the ‘Reine Claude’) is a cultivar of the plum.
greengage
Stoned-Greengages
Greengages are ready for picking in late August.
Hornsea Herring Apple:
At one time in Hornsea, it was a condition for some tenants that a Hornsea Herring Apple Tree had to be planted and tended.
chestnut
The Sweet Chestnut produces spiny fruit which encase the edible chestnut, traditionally roasted in bonfires.
chestnut-case
Chestnuts are very nutritious:
chestnut-tail
To Cook a Chestnut snack:
To Store Chestnuts:
sweet-chestnuts
sweet-chestnut-tree
The Sweet Chestnut Tree (latin name – Castanea sativa) grows to a height of about 30m.
fruit-of-sweet-chestnut
Tayberry is a cross between raspberry and blackberry.
tayberries
The Tayberry fruit is:
For best flavour Tayberry should be allowed to fully ripen to a dark red colour before picking. It is best used for jams and summer puddings but can also be eaten fresh. Tayberries freeze well and are refreshing when used as a stewed fruit in the middle of winter.
The Tayberry canes are more like a blackberry, needing support. The Tayberry canes will climb up a fence, or grow against a wall. Tayberry is very vigorous and deserves a place in a far corner of the garden, but it must be in the sun.
Click this link to buy a tayberry plant.
Jobs for May:
Sow:
Harden off:
celery plants to set outdoors at end of month
Plant into ground at end of month:
beans, squash, courgettes, sweetcorn & pumpkins
Crop:
Other jobs:
Using Chives
Chop leaves:
to flavour salads, soups, fish, potatoes, eggs and tomatoes.
as a garnish.
chives
Cut the leaves just above soil level.
Wash and leave fresh, no need to cook.
Chop in to small pieces.
The blue flower heads are edible and can be used as a garnish.
How_To_Grow_chives-15
If you would like a pdf of the how to grow chives card, please contact us.
How to Grow Herbs for cooking is an ebook on sale here for only £3. Click this link to find out more about using chives and other culinary herbs.
When growing vegetables in containers it is wise to group plants which grow well together and have the same water requirements.
The amount of light required by different vegetables varies.
Container size:
Minimum days from seed to harvest:
* radish – 20
* beans – 45
* lettuce – 45
* salad leave – 45
* courgettes – 50
* squash – 50
* cucumbers – 50
* parsley – 70
* onions – 80
* aubergine – 90
* pepper – 90
* tomato – 90
Tender green beans, crisp lettuce and freshly picked parsley will give great satisfaction. A simple container-garden enables the whole family to enjoy the true flavour of home grown vegetables.
Square foot vegetable gardening is all the rage in America. It is the ultimate container-grown veg system.
Square foot vegetable gardening requires:
* a 4 foot by 4 foot container, about 1 foot deep. The container can actually be smaller or larger, depending on the location and space available
* 2 bags of general purpose growing medium/compost
* selection of seeds or young plants
* trellis if climbing vegetables, such as beans, are grown
The advantages of square foot gardening are:
* fresh vegetables available for picking
* no fertilisers required as rich compost used
* no pesticides required because the box is easily protected
* a whole-family project
* no expensive tools required, a spoon from the kitchen can dig the planting holes
* no heavy work, such as digging, required
* no thinning necessary, as the exact number of seeds required are planted
* plants may be grown closer together because of the ideal conditions
* square foot gardening produces 100% harvest in 20% of the space
The location may be a patio, balcony, window box, terrace or porch. Garden centers now stock all shapes and sizes of containers to fit in different spaces. They also have a multitude of accessories to suit the design of the space, such as wooden or steel trellis etc..
Suitable vegetables include:
* all the salads, including radish and spring onions, grow rapidly in containers.
* herbs, carrots, beans and beetroot etc
* the most important factor is to grow what people enjoy and will eat.
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