Editorial / 1
Forthcoming Events / 2
Recent Events / 2
SLOG Orchard Update / 3
Plagues & Pestilence: Currant Blister Aphid / 4
Ancient Apple Variety Review: Decio / 4
Field Vole Update / 4
Brantwood Open Day / 5
Orchard Profile: Leapers Rock / 5
Fruit from other countries: China / 6
UK 2013 Apple & Pear Production / 7
Healthfood: Strawberries / 7
Trees, Labels & Guards for Sale / 7
SLOG discount at Suppliers / 8
Editorial
What a blossom period we have just had! Not only top fruit but all sorts of other species such as Azaleas, Wiegelias and even Bluebells have all put on a remarkable show.
Earlier fears that the lack of winter chill might weaken flower quality and pollen strength seem to have been overridden by the warm weather during the blossom period. For fertilisation and good fruit set to occur, the pollen tube must reach the ovary within 12 hours. A combination of weak pollen and low temperatures would have posed problems, however the good weather during blossom means we have a reasonable chance of decent fruit set. Commercial growers have already reported good fruit set on cherries although they are still non-committal on apple prospects.
This all follows the wettest recent winter which delivered 26" of rainfall in the 3 months from December to end February in Kendal. Fortunately the rainfall eased back to roughly seasonal average for March to May.
So a good soil moisture level coupled with mild weather and plenty of early sunshine set the scene for a good early start to the season.
Blossom date records show that this year first apple blossom opened three weeks earlier than last year (which was unusually late) and a few days earlier than the last five year average.
However, returning to the subject of soil moisture, where drainage is poor, this means tree roots have been sitting in waterlogged conditions for prolonged periods leading inevitably to a degree of root death. The experts tell us that in this mild and wet weather the trees were not fully dormant, so the bark may swell and soften, leading to increased risk of canker infection, particularly around leaf abscission scars. Commercial growers have reported higher levels of perithecia (canker spore bodies) this year and were planning to apply early copper fungicide sprays (copper spraying is permitted under organic production regimes). The other action to take is to give your trees a good feed using slow release materials such as compost, wood ash, blood, fish & bone etc.
Our Orchard Profile in this issue, Leaper’s Rock, is a departure from the usual in that it is a commercial orchard, in fact a “pick your own” venture. It is particularly interesting in that David Wilson is continually trying out new varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry. It’s situation close to junction 35 of the M6 makes it very accessible and well worth a visit starting from June when strawberries are ready, going right through the season with the full range of soft and top fruit.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
For the most up-to-date information look in: http://www.slorchards.co.uk/SLOGevents.html
Saturday Sunday 31st May 1st June – CountryFest
The SLOG stand returns to CountryFest after a 1yr gap. We will be in the “Grow your own” tent, so come to have your questions answered, try our delicious apple juice & cider, or just for a chat. If you would like to help man the stand (and benefit from free entry) please contact Andy Gilchrist. Tel: 01539 727772. For more information go to: www.westmorlandshow.co.uk/country_fest.html
Directions: From M6 jnctn36, take Kirkby Lonsdale exit to next rdbt then first left onto A65 for approx ½ mile, turn left onto B6385 over canal, showfield on rt
Saturday June 21st – Summer Orchard Visit to The South Ribble Orchard Project, Longton, nr Preston Meet at 1pm at Astley Hall café, Chorley from where we will travel 25mins in convoy to the orchard. More info from Phil Rainford. email: Tel: 01772 712909
Tuesday July 29th 7.30pm – SLOG AGM at Levens Institute This is your chance to air your views on what SLOG should or should not be doing and help shape our future strategy. We plan to run a workshop on how to train your grafts into stopovers, cordons or espaliers. Directions: From M6 jnctn 36 go 4 miles on A591 towards Kendal, then A590 Barrow, then after 2 miles turn right signposted Levens. Go to centre of village, Institute is on crossroads across from Methodist Chapel. No car park so park on roads nearby.
Wednesday 6th August – Cartmel Show (tbc) We plan to attend but are still awaiting a response from the show organizers.
Saturday August 16th 1.30 – 4.30pm – Budding & Summer Pruning Workshop, Growing Well, Sizergh Learn the skill of budding which nurseries prefer over grafting, and if your bud does not take, you can still graft onto the rootstock next spring which means you get two chances of success instead of one! Also develop your summer pruning skills on the Growing Well collection of over 200 cordons. Directions: From M6 jnctn 36 go 4 miles on A591 towards Kendal, then A590 Barrow, then shortly on right follow brown signs for Sizergh Castle, then Low Sizergh Barn. From Kendal go 3½ miles south on the A591 then just before the A590 interchange turn left into the car park at Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop and Tearooms. Park at the far end of the car park and walk over the fields. Admission: Free to SLOG members. There will be a charge for the rootstock.
RECENT EVENTS
GRAFTING WORKSHOP Saturday 8th March, Growing Well
Another record attendance of over 30 gathered in the yurts at Growing Well to learn and practice the ancient art of grafting apple trees. This event continues to be one of our most popular events. Phil & Andy demonstrated splice and whip & tongue grafts and then members set about grafting using scion wood from a wide selection of over 60 apple and 20 pear varieties onto MM106 and Quince A rootstocks.
If you were able to grow on your grafts in a glasshouse or polytunnel, you can usually tell by the end of April whether they have taken or not. If kept outdoors, the take may not be definite until the end of May.
Once the extension growth starts to grow, put a cane in the pot and tie in the growth as it develops. Carefully remove the grafting tape in June or July but keep the young trees in a sheltered position until planting out from November onwards. The surplus rootstocks were subsequently taken to Witherslack the following week where committee members grafted almost 100 which were potted up for growing on under Adele’s supervision ready for sale later in the year.
DAMSON DAY Saturday 12th April, Lyth Valley
The timing of Damson Day this year was spot on with the trees in full bloom. The weather was cool which reduced visitor numbers compared to last year but we still had a fair number of visitors who kept us busy chatting on the stand.
The damsons are in full bloom and the red SLOG tent stands out in the centre of the site.
More damson info on the WDA website: http://www.lythdamsons.org.uk/index.html
SLOG ORCHARD UPDATE
Our first working party of the year was on Saturday 1st March. Most of the original yellow plastic labels on the trees had either become illegible or brittle and broken, so new Wells & Winter labels were attached to about a hundred trees. Long canes were inserted to a couple of dozen trees and tied in, and fish, blood & bone fertiliser applied to all trees. The stones were raked out of alleys 4-8 ready for sowing with grass seed, which was subsequently done in April. With a team of seven we were finished within a couple of hours. Following the grafting workshop, about twenty Quince A rootstocks were planted in Row 7 to grow on for use at next year’s grafting workshop. Some MM106 rootstock tops were stuck in on Row 3 to see if they will root for use in the future.
Grass seed was sown in alleys 4, 5, 6 & 7 in April, which germinated in May. Explanatory labels have been affixed to posts at the ends of each row. Many more apple & pear varieties have been grafted which will be ready for planting out in November. Meanwhile the next Working Party will probably be in August for weeding and summer pruning.
In early May the grass is lush in alleys 1-3, but the seed has not yet germinated in the other alleys (although some weeds have!).
There is a pile of surplus large stones at the SE corner by the gate. Members are welcome to remove these for use in a rockery or any other purpose. Two are so large that they require two people to lift and a wheelbarrow to move them to a car. However, SLOG accepts no liability for any injuries incurred in so doing!
An updated site plan and variety list can be found on the SLOG website at: http://www.slorchards.co.uk/orchard.html
The orchard is on the Underley Road Allottments, situated between Underley Road & Hallgarth Circle just east of Windermere Road, Kendal.
Medlar blossom is particularly attractive in late May
“PLAGUES & PESTILENCE” CURRANT BLISTER APHID
If you see the damage below on the leaves of your black, red or white currants this spring, you may be forgiven for wondering what it is. It seems to be quite common this spring but fortunately it is not as serious as it looks.
Currant blister aphid damage on redcurrant foliage
Currant blister aphid is a common pest of red, white and black currants. The distorted growth is very noticeable, although the plant’s vigour and ability to bear fruit is not greatly affected.
Currant blister aphid is a sap-sucking insect that infests the lower leaf surface in early summer and causes leaf distortion on currant plants. The pale yellow aphids can be found underneath the discoloured and distorted part of the leaves where they feed by sucking sap from late spring to early summer. The leaf damage is caused by chemicals which the aphids secrete into the foliage. The aphids hatch from overwintered eggs into the wingless form until July when winged aphids develop and migrate to hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica). They return to currants in autumn to lay eggs.
The damage to currants, although perhaps visually alarming, is relatively insignificant, and the bushes will crop normally. Once the damage is seen, there is not much point spraying because it usually does not get much worse. However, it is likely to recur in subsequent years, so it can be controlled by the use of a winter wash in December to kill the overwintering eggs. See:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?PID=491
With acknowledgement to The Royal Horticultural Society
ANCIENT APPLE VARIETY REVIEW: DECIO
Decio is thought to be probably the oldest known apple variety, dating back over fifteen hundred years to the end of the Roman Empire. A variety known as “melo d’Ezio” was reputedly taken from Rome by the Roman general Ezio when he marched to Padua in the northeastern region of Venetia to fight Attila the Hun in cAD450. The variety Deci was recorded in nearby Ferrara in the 16thC, and Decio was grown in the Venetia region in the 20thC. Photo courtesy Bernwode Fruit Trees It is a late dessert apple ripening from brownish pink to red and cream which tastes best after storage into the New Year. In view of its (assumed) historic significance, we obtained scion wood from Brogdale which has been grafted onto MM106 and will be planted in the SLOG orchard later this year. Our interest in this variety is purely historic: as an Italian variety it is unlikely to develop much flavour in our shorter growing season this far north.
FIELD VOLE UPDATE
Newsletter #19 carried an article on damage done to recently planted young apple trees by field voles. Solutions to the problem were reqested. Rod Everett of The Middlewood Trust (see Newsletter#5) has the same problem in the Forest of Bowland. His remedy is twofold: establish plenty of perches for predatory birds which feed on voles (a form of biological control) and use holly leaves when planting new trees which act both as a physical deterrent and are also toxic to voles.
Another possible solution is the use of a sonar repellent device (pictured above). Although marketed as a mole deterrent, it is reasonable to assume that voles may similarly be deterred. It is sunk in the ground to a depth of about a foot, and emits a battery powered sonar pulse every 30 seconds. Does it work? Well, the moles have certainly gone elsewhere. There seems to be no further vole damage, but either their population has crashed naturally, or they now have plenty of alternative food sources. Time will tell!
BRANTWOOD OPEN DAY
Brantwood held an Open Day on Saturday 3rd May to mark the launch of a new and beautifully illustrated book: “The Gardens at Brantwood – Evolution of John Ruskin’s Lakeland paradise” by Professor David Ingram, which traces the history of the gardens and explores the contribution of successive garden visionaries who have shaped Brantwood from Ruskin to the present day.
Sally Beamish receives her award from the Professional Gardeners Guild
The opportunity was also taken to recognise Gardener Sally Beamish’s work over 25yrs with a well-deserved award from the Professional Gardeners Guild. The crowd included other Gardeners such as Chris Crowder from Levens Hall and Sarah McCormack from Ford Park, while the National Trust steamboat “Gondola” chugged serenely around Coniston Water. Just behind us in the photo above lies the orchard where SLOG ran our winter pruning workshop. Unfortunately a combination of cold weather and a low turnout meant we were unable to finish the job. If anyone has the time, Sally and Ruth would welcome another summer pruning session in August to complete the work.