Sunday 12 April 2015

Manuring Work Party at the Orchard


A keen group of 9 of us gathered this week to spread manure
Mirabelle in blossom 8 April 2015
onto the trees in the Orchard. We had gathered this lovely horse manure from stables at Only Fools and Horses on Pollards Wood Road, Limpsfield, in the autumn…..quite fresh and strawy then. But the texture, after being allowed to mature for 6 months in bags, was perfect for use and we spread a couple of bags on each tree and topped up each site with rotted wood mulch. The fruit trees are now fed and protected from summer drought.

Now we just have to wait for the blossom and hope the bees have equable conditions for pollination…..no frost I hope. 

The 2015 Manuring Team
Taking a break
 

Thursday 2 April 2015

SPRING UPDATE 2015


We really did have a good year last year. A magnificent crop of healthy apples which we were able to use in several ways….tasted by many at our Tasting Day, picked and taken home, with bags given to Limpsfield School for the children and lastly some for the Harvest Festival in St Peter’s Church. Not a single one was wasted. There were a few pears….always a slower crop to become established but no damsons or Mirabelles. I must admit my very favourite were the Sunset apples….truly delicious….if you are choosing a tree for your own garden do try to find one. Another good cropper with a distinctive flavour is the Herefordshire Russet.

This year we are doing our very best to ensure another good crop of fruit for us all to enjoy. We had our successful pruning day in January, shaping the trees to ensure maximum crops. This is a real hands on workshop, and this year after pruning our own Orchard we went on to a garden in Limpsfield where we tackled some really old trees. Shortly (April 8th) we have our annual manuring day when we weed and feed the trees….a most enjoyable job (if rather dirty) much enjoyed by all who come to help.

In February we had our annual Wassail on a clear starry night with over 270 adults and children attending. The trees were well and truly wassailed with shouts to ward off the devils, a terrific bonfire and much hot spicy cider and apple cake. Many thanks are due to Jenny Ephgrave who masterminded the evening with her large band of helpers. And of course we must mention Ed Heaver our chief Wassailler and his team who entertain us with songs and bless the trees after the torch lit procession over the Common from the British Legion. This was well written up in the St Peter’s Limpsfield Parish News and the Tandridge News…..so our fame is spreading!

At this time of year (April/May) the trees are growing very fast. The flower buds are fattening and change can be seen almost daily. The glorious blossom is already on the Mirabelles. We have fingers crossed that there will be no late frosts to inhibit fruit set once pollination has taken place. Do try to get up into the Orchard to have a look round and see the annual magic taking place….PUT YOUR GLASSES ON! You need to look carefully to see when exactly the little fruitlets form.

We are being helped (as last year) by the children from Limpsfield School who are providing a new
A perfect Sunset apple August 2014
set of Earwig Refuges. They are beautifully decorated. The children have also devised some fancy bird scarers which will go into place in June….bird damage last year was our worst problem….once the birds peck the fruit then the damaged area is open to wasp attack and the fruit deteriorates quickly. Hopefully this year the problem will be solved!



Dates for the Diary Blossom Viewing Coffee Morning Sunday 10 May  from 10-30
Apple Tasting Morning Saturday 12 September from 10-30
Tasting Day September 2014
Good wishes to you all for a fruitful year from Helen and the Orchard Team