LIMPSFIELD COMMUNITY ORCHARD

Saturday, 8 October 2016

WORKING PARTY 19 OCTOBER

We need a Working Party to give the site a tidy up before the winter (Wednesday 19 October from 10.00am)

·        Cut down and dig out the 2 George Cave apple trees which have canker. We are going to replace them with a variety of dessert apple which will store into the winter.
·        Cut back the hedging on the A25 where it obscures the sight line when crossing over
·        Weed the tree sites
·        Cut back the hedging along the Eastern boundary + bramble and nettle
·        General bramble removal along grass margins and outside the Orchard onto the A25
·        Weed the wood chipped area in front of the laurel hedge.
·        Review and possibly strengthen the tree guard stakes which in some cases are beginning to rot

There should still be plenty of Herefordshire Russets to pick. These will store well up to Christmas

ps: coffee/bix provided for everyone

Friday, 7 October 2016

TASTING TWO

Tea and apple cake

We had a most successful afternoon for our second tasting session at the Orchard (last Saturday 24th September) with several children and some new visitors who had seen the invitation on the blackboard outside the Limpsfield Memorial Stores. Indeed if you would like to collect some of our Orchard apples they are available in the Stores for a small donation.

There are plenty of Sunsets left on the trees, and any Herefordshire Russets that are picked should keep well until December.

Remember that ripe fruit will lift off gently so be careful when picking. But do go up and taste different apples….it might make you decide to plant some in your own garden.

We have decided to remove the 2 George Cave trees which are sadly infected with canker. So we are now researching a late harvesting apple (a keeper) and one that might be more resistant to canker. We will be planting in the winter when the trees are dormant.

We will be having a working party on wed 19th at 10-00 to tidy the site and weed before the winter. If you are interested do contact me (Helen on 01883 713160).

Our new Niwaki ladder

Herefordshire Russet in full fruit

Tasting the fruit

Perfect Lord Lambourn

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

HARVEST/TASTING REMINDER

We had a good gathering last week with much enjoyable tasting. Visitors went home with over 15lbs of damsons and a few each of Fiesta, Katy (all gone now) and Bountiful (a cooker) We were also able to take home 3 perfect Beth pears…..these have to be picked and eaten at home when fully ripe.
This Saturday (24 September) there will be plenty of Bramley Seedling (we are going to use our fancy new ladder) and some Lord Lambourne, Ellison’s Orange and some Sunset. The Herefordshire Russets and Newton Wonder (cooker) are later so we should be picking those in early October. Sadly the Laxton Superb have not done well, but on the whole I am pleased with the crop now the fruit are maturing. The Buerre Hardy pears will be ready to harvest in a couple of weeks.

We’ll be at the Orchard from 2.30 to about 4pm so do come along to see how YOUR Orchard is doing.

Teas/coffee/fruit juice and APPLE CAKE!

Looking forward to seeing lots of you there

Helen and the Orchard TEAM

Thursday, 8 September 2016

TASTING AND HARVEST

Sunday 18 September at 2.30pm (we especially hope families with children can come to this one)
AND
Saturday 24 September at 2.30pm

Do come along and see what sort of crop we have this year. We will taste all varieties which are ripe, and some will be available to take home.

Coffee/teas/apple juice and APPLE CAKE too.

Any offers to make apple cake greatly appreciated….please reply by e-mail or telephone 01883 713160.

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Mid Summer Orchard Update

Up in the Orchard we have just completed thinning the apples….using our lovely new Niwaki ladder (Japanese no less) which surely means the trees are indeed growing. In fact the Bramley Seedling is pretty enormous now and is carrying a good crop for the first time. However Bountiful, another cooking apple, which did so very well last year, is hardly bearing any fruit at all. The Herefordshire Russets are looking good, as are Katy (really early) and Ellison’s Orange.

The Sunset which was nibbled by the rabbit in February has had the “bandage” removed now and the bark appears to be hardening off. BUT we have been advised to remove most of the apples in order to spare its strength. Its twin, the other Sunset, is looking great….I think they are my favourite in the Orchard!

We do have some problems with a fungal infection (scab) which means some of the apples crack somewhat…..letting in disease which then rots them. I am investigating an organic method to deal with this for next year as it seems to be on the increase in the Northern part of the Orchard.

The 6 pear trees all have some fruit but the Buerre Hardys have the most and have a delicious flavour….a connoisseur’s pear.

We are planning two Harvest and Tasting days

Sunday 18 and Saturday 24September from 2.30pm.

Do come along…..you will be able to test each apple (and possibly pear) that is ripe, and will be able to take some home too.

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

MAY 2016 UPDATE

On Saturday a group met up at the Orchard to admire this year’s blossom….and pretty good it is looking too. The pears have all blossomed well this year showing how they are maturing (particularly the Buerre Hardy which takes a few years to establish) and all pears trees have set fruit for the first time.

This is Conference pear showing the tiny fruitlets

The apples have nearly all got good blossom too….and I am particularly pleased to see the trees which are near to the greedy Copper Beech flowering well. (Katy and Fiesta) The Sunset tree which was nibbled by the rabbit in March, and now bandaged up looks amazingly good. I can’t believe it will make a crop this year with such devastating girdling, but who knows? Maybe it will surprise us all.

Sunset blossom

However the two George Cave which were struggling last year are now looking even worse. They are already mis-shapen following pruning to try to get rid of canker …..but now the trees look even more bedraggled. Why these trees? I have no idea why they should have been so affected. We’ll be watching them carefully this year….it could be their last!

George Cave looking poorly…….

We will be having a working party shortly for a tidying up exercise......and then in the Autumn (mid September onwards) we will gather together for the best meetings of the year.....Tasting and Harvest. We are going to try some Sunday afternoons.... we are very keen to include Limpsfield School children and their parents.