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The weekend before last saw the local Parks and Countryside Nursery at Redhall in Leeds stage an open day. This nursery produces over three million plants each year for use in parks, roundabouts, school grounds, and city centre flowerbeds. There were lots of displays and activities which demonstrated the work conducted by the service, and also birds of prey from Lotherton Hall, donkeys from Temple Newsam and reptiles from Tropical World, just some of the city's parks. It was really interesting to have a look round, but we didn't come away empty handed. The nursery sells off it's surplus plants and is now open seven days a week between February and October. I bought some very healthy looking parsley and thyme plants, just 50p for four, and though we don't eat very much salad, I couldn't resist these lovely looking Lollo Rosso lettuces at the same price. As well as veg plants and herbs, there were also lots of bedding plants as well as perennials and even trees for sale. We'll definitely visit again.
I'm really disappointed by the amount of blossom this year, I don't think it's going to be a very good fruit year for me. After flowering early last year, the cherries spoilt and I didn't harvest one, so I was hoping that this year would be different. Unfortunately, there wasn't much blossom at all, so I'm not holding out much hope now. There's flowers on only one of my three blueberry plants, the other two don't look as though they're going to do anything at all. My two apple trees and plum tree have produced one flower between them, though I only bought them last year so I don't mind that too much as I didn't expect anything from them this year anyway. I've seen plenty of blossom on other people's trees so I think it's just mine which are under performing, I'll wait and see what happens.
All the potatoes are now planted up in to their containers and look to be growing well. I've got a total of twenty pots, all at various stages of growth, so they should keep me well supplied.
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The fruit trees are probably just sorting themselves out Jo, I have a new one which had no blossom but all my others have never had so much .As usual you have come away with such bargains I really don't know how you do it.Glad you have your potatoes in.
ReplyDeleteI've seen so much blossom around this year, just not in my garden unfortunately. Never mind, there's always next year. I'm always on the look out for bargains. I shall definitely take another trip to this nursery, some things were really well priced.
DeleteHow could you come away from a plant sale having bought nothing - it's unheard of!
ReplyDeleteFunnily our fruit trees have produced plenty of blossom but will it set fruit?
I'm definitely going back, there were quite a few things which caught my eye. I think the fruit should set this year, we haven't had any exceptionally bad frosts since the trees were in blossom, unlike last year.
DeleteI've always found it hard to grow lettuce from seed so this year I've ordered some plants (which haven't arrived yet) but I think rosso etc are included. Can't wait for them to arrive.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea buying in things which you find hard to grow. I just never get round to sowing many salad leaves or lettuces, purely because we don't eat much of it. I couldn't say no to four well established plants for 50p.
DeleteMaybe they need feeding. Are you growing your fruit trees in pots? I've got a magnolia in a pot that hasn't flowered and I think it's because it isn't getting enough potassium to encourage flowering and fruiting. Possibly you need to feed them in late summer and autumn with tomato feed when they are forming the flower buds for next year. How great that the parks dept. open up their nursery. Looks like some great bargains.
ReplyDeleteThey are being grown in pots, but they've been fed. I'll have to see what happens next year. There were some great bargains to be had at the nursery, I shall definitely make a return visit, perhaps looking at the ornamentals next time.
DeleteI like Losso Rosso lettuce, which slugs don't seem to like.
ReplyDeleteShame about the blossom, but your potatoes seem to be doing well. Flighty xx
I didn't know that the slugs aren't keen on Lollo Rosso, that's a huge plus for that variety then. There's always some things which do better than others, it looks like a bad year for fruit for me this year.
DeleteI have just two apple trees in the garden, one is loaded with blossom and the other has virtually none. They sit side by side. Strange isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt's so strange when one plant performs so much better than another, especially when grown in identical conditions. I suppose some things are just meant to be.
DeleteGosh those plants were good value! I'm sorry to hear about your blossom. Our orchard has had a mixed spring - apples and pears look good, but only one of our four plum trees flowered. Glad your spuds are performing. Did you choreograph their different stages of development?
ReplyDeleteI shall definitely have another trip to the nursery, everything was priced really well, I hope to pick up some more bargains. The planting of the potatoes was spread over a couple of months so that they'll be ready at different times, though they do seem to keep in the containers until you're ready for them.
DeleteWhat a bargain and you were very restrained! There is a lack of blossom round here too xx
ReplyDeleteI was restrained on this occasion, though I shall pop back to see what else takes my fancy. It's such a shame about the blossom, especially as last year wasn't a good fruit year either, it looks like we'll have to wait for next year now.
DeleteThe day out at the nursery sounds wonderful, I can't get over how cheap the plants were!!!Lucky you eh?
ReplyDeleteOh, this year is really frustrating isn't it. I have lots of blossom on my mature fruit tress but now we have howling gales blowing the lot off! I could scream!xxxx
I'm not sure if the plants were so cheap because it was an open day or if they're usually that price. I'll visit again and find out. It feels as though there's always something battling against us gardeners, if it isn't the weather it's pests. Fingers crossed that you get a great fruit harvest.
DeleteHi Jo, So sorry you didn't get a good blossom. Our apple tree blossomed well but the caterpillars have now taken it over so I doubt we will get a yield.
ReplyDeleteOh no, if it isn't one obstacle it's another. Such a shame if you don't get a harvest after blossoming well.
DeleteSorry to read about the lack of blossom on your fruit trees Jo. You must be disappointed but their hour of glory will come.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will. There's always next year, though more flowers have popped up on my blueberries so perhaps all is not lost yet.
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