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Wellington Fields Allotments - Hixon.

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Plough Field Allotments at Amerton

 

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Hartley.

 

Unusual & Old
Fashioned Fruit
Trees.

 

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Environmental Issues And Going Green.

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Yet More Fruit Trees!

Under a plum tree that was growing as a “Cordon” against a fence, at home, I had planted two Josta Berries that I thought would grow well in the space, but later I found out that they only produce fruit at a mature size of 2 metres! Consequently I decided to dig them up while they were dormant and take them up to the allotment. A lot of damage was done to the roots as they were already quite big plants, but I am hoping that with a bit of nursing, they will survive. Quite a few small branches were also broken in the upheaval, but of course they were trimmed and simply provided material for “Hardwood Cuttings.” A dozen or more 15 inch lengths were carefully pushed deeply into the freshly dug soil by the big bushes and will be left until later in the Summer when hopefully they will have rooted.

Always fascinated by fruit trees and bushes I was excited to see that my Strawberry tree seems to be throwing up suckers, or at least shoots from the main stem below soil level. With a lot of luck the shoots may well start to root, so as I lost a mature plant the previous winter, a few “free” young plants will be most welcome. People don’t normally think of the unusual little “Strawberries” as being edible, but according to one of the TV gardeners they are and I can personally vouch for the fact that, although they have an odd feel in the mouth, they are very tasty!

If the suckers do root they will be ideal fruit to grow on my allotment as they will happily fruit as small bushes and another fruit tree that I bought a little while ago, which has also produced an unexpected opportunity, is a Kumquat. It was loaded with edible fruits on when I bought it and as they are slowly ripening in the house, we are putting them in our daily fruit salads. Normally the small fruits sold in the shops don’t have any pips in, but these do, so yes I have planted a few. Compared to other Citrus, like Oranges, Lemons, Limes and Grapefruit, they are supposed to be fairly hardy, although nowadays, you do sometimes see Oranges and Lemons advertised that claim to be frost hardy. If the Kumquat pips grow well I might try a few small plants outside in my allotment along with the other strangely assorted fruit!

I have still got two small Lychee plants upstairs at home, that I grew from pips a couple of years ago. These will never be of any use whatsoever as they really are tropical plants. But I am hoping that the seeds of the (Acca) Feijoa Sellowiana, that are just germinating, will be suitable for planting in my allotment.  The “Pineapple Guava,” as it is commonly called is a member of the Myrtle family and has attractive, almost, Fuchsia-like blooms, followed by delicious guava-flavoured, green fruit. The claims made are that mature plants are quite hardy in mild winters, but severe frosts can take the fruit buds in much the same way as with figs. 

My collection of strange and exotic fruit trees and bushes seems to keep growing as I track down more and more varieties. How many more are out there I don’t know!


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