Gardening Tips
Your fortnightly gardening tips for indoors and outdoors |
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Apples. Part of the skill of growing apples is to know
when to pick them and what to do with them. Some apples are ready to eat straight from the
tree, while others are best stored before eating. The popular early apple 'Discovery'
doesn't store well and, in fact has a very short season, like most early apples, and by
now most are soft and nothing like the sweet crisp apples they were in August. An apple is
ready to pick when it comes away cleanly and easily when cupped in the hand and lifted
with a gentle twist. There is no need to pull hard if the fruit is ripe Usually the apples
at the top of the tree, nearest the sun, will ripen before those in the shade. There is no
advantage in leaving apples on the tree longer than necessary because birds will then
attack them and then wasps will feed on them. Only store perfect, unblemished fruit or it
may rot in storage. Wrap them individually in paper, which allows you to check the fruit
for damage. Put the apples in cardboard or wooden boxes and store in a cool, dark place,
away from strong smells.
Plant bedding now for spring. If spring-flowering bedding is planted in September, it will
be fully established before the winter, and the early spring display will be better. Late
planting means plants do not get a chance to establish properly, and are more likely to be
eaten by slugs. You can plant bulbs once the bedding plants have been put in. Check that
the height of the bulbs is taller than the bedding. The best effects usually feature
single colours because mixtures give a muddled effect. Traditional wallflowers and Darwin
hybrid tulips still take some beating for colour and scent.
Sweet Peas. Order seeds for planting next month. The over-wintered plants give the best
blooms as they are already well established by the spring.
Fuchsias. Dead-head plants regularly to prolong the flowering season. Fuchsias often get a
new lease of life now as the weather gets cooler and moister at night. Continue to apply
liquid feeds while the plants are still growing.
Water Butts. Clean out and disinfect water butts and guttering ready to collect autumn
rains. Keep butts covered to keep out leaves and insects, and it is a good idea to install
a water diverting and filter if not already done.
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DON'T FORGET
TO REGISTER FOR BROADBAND
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| Embarrassing
Stories |
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We were out for a birthday meal when my husband on
returning from the gents passed a present over my shoulder. It was a lovely bracelet and I
leapt to my feet and planted a smacker on him.
Unfortunately, he was not there and the poor waiter I grabbed was terrified! My husband
had gone to ring a taxi to take us on to a show. He thought it was hilarious and said the
waiter didn't need a tip as he had already had one! |
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How do you tell when you have run out of invisible ink? |
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| READERS LETTER |
TESCO: THE ARGUMENT IN BRIEF
Readers may soon want District Councillor Sue Pointer to read their views on Tesco's
application for a supermarket opposite the Church near the roundabout. As local opinion
seems divided roughly 6 to 5 in favour, I have summarised, for convenience, the main
arguments heard on either side in the same proportion:
FOR
1. Cromer, Holt and North Walsham have supermarkets, so we must have one.
2. Tesco shelves have loads of cheap stuff you can push round in big trolleys to your
carboots.
3. Some SCAMROD supporters are old newcomers.
4. This is 2003.
5. Up to 10 minutes could be saved every fortnight by driving to Tesco instead of Safeway
- progress with a capital T.
6. "Every little helps". (A lovely jingle to hum in the bath, or even during
"sex").AGAINST
1. Tesco's plans for Cromer Road, the Commons and Hilbre hilltop spoil Sheringham's
landscape and character.
2. Tesco's enormous "one-stop" gateway store will close down smaller town-centre
shops.
3. Budgens' carpark plan was refused on highway grounds, but Tesco's vehicle congestion
and danger would be worse.
4. Sheringham Town Council examined and rejected all Tesco's plans to relocate housing,
the fire station and community services.
5. The elderly folk in St. Andrews Close would face day and night hell.
Darren Oldstock |
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