AT LAST!! IT'S HERE - BARE-ROOT HEDGING NOW AVAILABLE!!

Hello - finally - at long last - it's all here!!! After a herculean effort - we have got everything heeled into our hedging bays. Despite snow,frost and just about everything else - in the last two days - over 16,000 hedging plants have been processed!!

Heeling-in during a blizzard yesterday was one of the highlights for me - that lovely feel as the snow starts to get in the back of your neck is just bliss!! Couple that with the plants getting heavier - the spade getting slippery - the soil getting wetter - and you have a nightmare scenario!! But we persevered and it is now all done - and in neat rows - ready for the bare-root hedging season.

We are working through the backlog of orders as fast as we can - so we will be in touch soon if you have pre-ordered your hedging. If you are just coming to visit the nursery - then we do have a hedging section near the fruit sales area - that has a good selection of most of the main hedging plants we offer - in convenient packs of 12 - plus also most of our popular hedging packs mix (50 plants in a pack) - including the new thorn-free and painters pallette mixtures.

However - if you are looking for several hundred plants - or a lot of packs - then it is best to pre-order - since we can only lift so much in one day - and we like to keep our plants as nursery-fresh as we can.

Our full hedging catalogue can be downloaded via the website - we are here to help as much as we can - we can advise you on the selections that may be best for your soil types.

Now that the darker evenings are here - please remember that the nursery opening hours have changed - due to safety reasons - we are now open Monday-Saturday 9am - 4pm only.

Now that the main planting season is in full swing - we are also delighted to announce that we are now stockists for the ROOT-GRO MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI. Much has been said about this product in the last few years - the RHS - ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY now fully endorse it.

It is particularly useful for use with bare-root plants since it helps the plant to re-develop an active root system. Almost every gardening programme seems to be in favour - so we are very pleased to offer it here at Crown Nursery - since it sits very well with the plant range we grow.

It is available in ready-to-use handy sachets - just right for sprinkling around the base of the trench when you plant your hedging!!

After a long and cold week of digging thousands of plants into the ground - I am off for a nice long soak in a hot bath - and perhaps even a glass of something stronger!!

SO UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

BARE-ROOT FRUIT TREES NOW AVAILABLE!

Hello - Phew - what a week!! The middle part of November is always viewed with mixed feelings by the nursery staff - why - because it is the busiest time of our year - with deliveries daily, as all the new season bare-root plants come on stream.

This week has definitely been manic - there have been two more of our popular pruning courses which were hugely successful - there have been five lorries delivering new stock - over 350 bare-root fruit trees and over 10,000 hedging plants have been heeled into the ground. Our mail-order service has been in full swing with parcels going out all over the country - plus all our regular visitors to the nursery as well!!

There are actually only three members of nursery staff so to say we are a bit stretched at the moment is a bit of an understatement!!

Nevertheless - we work as a team - and we now have available - BARE-ROOT HALF-STANDARD TREES OF PLUM 'VICTORIA', 'CZAR' AND 'MARJORIE'S SEEDLING', ALSO 'OLD ENGLISH GREENGAGE' AND DAMSON 'MERRYWEATHER, PLUS PEARS 'CONFERENCE','CONCORDE','DOYENNE DU COMICE' AND 'WILLIAMS BON CHRETIEN'. WE ALSO HAVE SMASHING QUALITY HALF-STANDARDS OF CHERRY 'STELLA', 'SUNBURST' AND 'LAPINS'.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE IN A FEW WEEKS TIME - PLUM 'VICTORIA' FAN, GREENGAGE FAN, CHERRY 'STELLA','SUNBURST' AND LAPINS' FANS - AND A RANGE OF APPLE ESPALIERS!!

So as you can see we are rather busy at the moment!!

Many of you are asking when the bare-root hedging will be available - we have the first deliveries in - but it will not be available for sale until late next week - we need to get everything together first - with another 15,000 hedging plants due in early next week - please be patient and bear with us - we are going as fast as we can!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

BARE-ROOT SOFT FRUIT NOW AVAILABLE!!

Hello - our season is now in full swing - and our new stock of bare-root soft fruit is now available.

Bare-root gives you better-quality and bigger plants with the soft fruit - and are right ready for planting in the next few months - while the soil remains warm and workable.

We have Blackcurrant 'Ben Sarek, 'Ben Lomond', Redcurrant 'Rovada', Raspberry 'Glen Moy', 'Tulameen' and 'Autumn Bliss' - Gooseberry 'Invicta','Hinnmaki Red' and 'Hinnamaki Yellow' and Strawberry 'Cambridge Favourite' as bare-root plants - plus potted Rhubarb 'Brandy Carr Scarlet' and 'Stockbridge Arrow', plus Loganberry Thornless and Thornless Blackberries - 'Waldo' and 'Oregon' and Strawberry 'Elsanta'.

There now - that's an excellent selection that will get your new fruit plot - or fill in existing gaps - and get you off to a flying start - get planting!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

BLUEBERRY PLANTS NOW AVAILABLE!

Hello - we have at last got new supplies of Blueberry plants in stock - we have 2 litre pots of the variety 'Bluecrop' on the fruit sales area - approx 2ft tall - 2 year-old @ £10.50 each.

PLEASE NOTE - THIS REPLACES THE VARIETY 'JERSEY' THAT IS LISTED IN OUR CURRENT FRUIT CATALOGUE - THAT VARIETY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

HEDGING YOUR BETS!!

Hello - the end of a WILD AND WET WEEK here at the nursery!! Some days it has not been fit for man nor beast to be out - but we plod on!!

Fortunately, the day of our WINTER PRUNING COURSE was actually the only dry and sunny day of the week - so we could not have timed that better!! 19 gardeners had a very enjoyable morning up in the orchard learning about fruit tree pruning. Our reserve course on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 23RD only has three places left as I type this - so if you want to come on this one - GET YOUR SKATES ON!! - and contact the office on 01394 460755. I am sure we will run new courses in the New Year - but no dates have yet been set for those.

We are very close to starting our new bare-root HEDGING season - although lifting has not started quite yet - EXPECTED ABOUT 10 DAYS - we are taking orders - so if you know what you want and would like to get the pick of the crop - contact us.

We have revamped our popular HEDGING PACKS for 2010-2011 - and these include some new mixes - by popular demand we are introducing a 'BIG SOFTY - THORNFREE MIX' -many people do not want a thorny old hedge - and we have put together a pack that will give you a dense barrier - but without the prickles!!!

This has been the best autumn for leaf colour for years - and we have put together a PAINTERS PALETTE pack, which will give you an outstanding display of colour every year - combine this with our new NATURE'S LARDER pack - which has been selected to provide a stunning fruiting hedge - great for wildlife - and you!!

We also have the opposite to the 'Big Softy' Mix - and that is the 'KEEP 'EM OUT' mix - or it could be called the 'KEEP THEM IN'!!! This is the thorniest mix we can make up - and will certainly deter 'unwanted' visitors!

We are still offering our 'MIXED NATIVE' packs - a mix of traditional Suffolk hedgerow plants.

All of these packs contain 50 PLANTS which is sufficient to do a 10 metre double-row hedge. As mentioned above - these will be available in a few weeks - but can be pre-ordered to save delay.

Download our full hedging catalogue on the website.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

BY DEMAND - EXTRA PRUNING COURSE!

Hello - pruning courses have never been so popular!!!

Both of our November courses are now full - (the 10th and 18th) - but we have bowed to demand - and put on an extra course on WINTER PRUNING ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 23RD - 10.30-12.30.This will be exactly the same as the other two - RHS members are - £17.60 - non RHS members are £22.00.

Light refreshments will be served on the day. It is a fun morning - we are very easy-going - and you will learn a lot - and hopefully enjoy yourself at the same time!!

This course is already filling up fast - there is a limit of 15 people - so if you want to book - contact the office on 01394 460755 without delay!!

My guess is that we will still have to run extra courses in February 2011 - so if you do miss this one - there will be other opportunities!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

MAIL-ORDER SEASON BEGINS

Hello - a new month - but at the moment it is so mild, it feels more like May!!

This week at the nursery, has seen the start of our 2010-2011 MAIL-ORDER SEASON. We can send out most of the items in our catalogues up to a height of about 2m to any UK mainland destination - so if you are a long way from Suffolk - but like what you see - we can get it to you!!

Those of you who have already placed orders with us - we are working through them in rotation - and will be in contact with you shortly!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

ALL GOOD THINGS.......

Hello - wow what a hectic week it has been here at the nursery!! To all of you who came last Saturday and helped to make our APPLE DAY 2010 such a success - we say a big THANK YOU!! It was definitely our best yet - and with 120 apple varieties to taste - from the comments received most of you thought so too!! I would personally - like to say Thank you to all those people who made such kind comments about this blog - it is nice to know that somebody out there is reading it!!! We had over 300 people across the day - and although it was a little damp in the morning - the sun did shine in the afternoon - for those who were unable to make the day - the above photo taken early in the morning gives an idea of the vast array of apples that were on display!

I would also like to say a big Thank you to the entire CROWN NURSERY TEAM for all their hard work - and all the HELPERS who served teas and refreshments - we could not have done it without you!!

I am still restocking the fruit sales area - filling all the gaps that were made!

We have also had the first of our popular AUTUMN FRUIT COURSES - FOCUS ON FRUIT - and 15 keen gardeners had a most enjoyable morning on Thursday - learning all about the huge subject of fruit growing - our next two PRUNING COURSES are sadly fully-booked - but we are now compiling a list of interested people - and intend to run additional courses in February 2011 - so if you wanted to come -and missed out this time round - do ring the office and get your name on the list for the new courses.

This week - has seen the real arrival of AUTUMN COLOUR in the countryside - the hedges are now turning yellow and amber more and more each day - most of that colour is coming from the common FIELD MAPLE - ACER CAMPESTRE - and they really do make a stunning hedge. Combine that with the bounty of berries that are everywhere this year - and hedges have a lot going for them - we expect our NEW-SEASON BARE-ROOT HEDGING in mid-November - but if you know what you are after - do ORDER IN ADVANCE - to ensure you get the pick of the crop.

RHUBARB CROWNS are now in stock - the superb virus-free varieties we offer are a huge improvement on the old types of years ago - we have BRANDY CARR SCARLET and STOCKBRIDGE ARROW - nice fat crowns ready for planting now.

Our BARE-ROOT FRUIT TREES - plums,gages,cherries,damsons and others are also expected mid-November - so again these can be pre-ordered to ensure no disappointment - contact the office for details.

On a sadder note - we have said Farewell to two members of our nursery team recently - KEVIN and JANET - who will be known to many of you - we wish them well as they move onto pastures new - and new challenges.


As someone once said - ALL GOOD THINGS MUST SURELY COME TO AN END.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

APPLE DAY 2010 - IT'S HERE!!

Hello - well - all the final preparations are made for our main event of the year!!

Tomorrow - Saturday 23rd - is APPLE DAY 2010!!

A celebration of all things apple - from fun and games - to tasting - to advice - to trees to buy - it's one of the highlights of our year.

I can confirm that there are 120 apple varieties available to taste!! - yes I did manage to squeeze in those extra two!!

We are also very excited this year to formally launch our own new variety - CROWN PIPPIN - discovered here at the nursery - ,bright red,crisp,sweet and juicy - everything you could want from an apple!!! - and proving very popular with those who have been lucky enough to try it - we will have trees for sale for the first time on the day -(and apples to taste of course) - be one of the first to grow it!!

Entry to the event is free - and the day runs from 10am to 4pm at the nursery - teas/cakes e.t.c will be available to sample in return for a small donation to charity - and various varieties of apples will be available in bags to buy as well - along with just about everything else under the sun connected with the word apple!!

The apple tasting and the games are all under cover - so no matter what the weather - the show will go on!!

SEE YOU THERE!!!
UNTIL THEN,
RICHARD

COUNTDOWN TO APPLE DAY 2010!!

Hello - we are on the Countdown to our biggest event of the Year!!

Saturday October 23rd is the day - 10-4 - a free-event CELEBRATING ALL THINGS APPLE !! From apple-related games to apple tasting - this is the event to come too - if you love fruit as much as we do!!

I have just about finished apple picking - and I can reveal that so far there will be 118 different varieties available for tasting!!!!

I suppose the big question is will I make it to 120??!!

On a related subject - our WINTER PRUNING COURSES are filling up very fast - if you want to come down to the nursery - and learn all about pruning your fruit trees - then book with the office ASAP - the dates are WEDNESDAY 10th NOVEMBER - or THURSDAY 18TH NOVEMBER - 10-12.30ish.

These are always fun - we are very informal - but you will go away inspired and with bags of new knowledge!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

AUTUMN FOLIAGE AND BERRY BONANZA!

Hello - autumn is well under way now - and here at the nursery, we are enjoying some fabulous AUTUMN COLOUR. The warm nights are producing some spectacular colour on trees and shrubs as the old foliage begins to decay.

One particular superb tree at the moment is the FLOWERING ASH - FRAXINUS ORNUS -this seldom-seen tree scores on two points - and also has the added bonus of excellent late spring flowers - a fluffy candy-floss type flower - but now it wears a coat of PURPLE-RED foliage - an excellent all-round tree for a small garden.

On the berry front - the SORBUS - ROWANS or MOUNTAIN ASHES - are studded with berries in every colour from red to white - we even have a dark purple one!!

Many of the ornamental CRAB APPLES - the MALUS have started to colour up - again a huge choice is available from the yellow fruits of GOLDEN HORNET to the red polished cherry-like RED SENTINAL.

But almost threatening to overshadow these all at the moment is CRATAEGUS CRUS-GALLII -THE COCKSPUR THORN - this is one smashing tree - the berries are large like rose hips -produced in great profusion - and the foliage is also large - quite unlike the normal hawthorn types - put those red berries against golden yellow autumn foliage and you have a winning combination!!

And on the shrub front - well - we are spoilt for choice!! From the incredible BLUE BERRIES of CALLICARPA to the well-known PYRACANTHAs - there is plenty of choice!!

Any of these planted in the next few weeks will establish in the warm soil and get away to a flying start in the spring - what are you waiting for?? - get out there!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME - (IF WE ARE SPARED!)
RICHARD

COMING SOON - NEW WEBSITE AND ONLINE-SHOP!

Hell0 - we are delighted to announce that we are about to embark on a relaunch of our website - and online shop.

With new features and user-friendly ideas - we hope that this will inspire everyone into the world of trees and shrubs that is at the heart of Crown Nursery.

All the new season 2010-2011 catalogues will be available to download as PDF files - the blog will move there - and we will also be launching a new newsletter service - offering our latest top tips on a range of different subjects. There is even a rumour that we are going on Twitter!!

Our online shop will re-appear with an expanded range of products - more user-friendly than ever before - we are very excited about all these developments - so WATCH THIS SPACE - ove the next few weeks - we should be merging into the new site.

Exciting stuff!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

AUTUMN - NATURE'S TIME FOR PLANTING

Hello - what a week!! A lot of water has fell out of the sky at the nursery this week - nearly an inch and three-quarters - and parts of the nursery have returned to their 'Battle of the Somme' status!

But - it has remained pretty mild - and this is excellent planting weather - trees and shrubs planted now will root quickly while the soil remains warm - and get off to a flying start in spring.

In recent years - there seems to have been a move away from autumn planting in favour of spring - but - particularly in East Anglia - this can lead to problems of establishment when springs turn dry. Far far better to copy dear old Mother Nature - she ripens her fruits now - and as they fall onto warm soil - they swell up and often produce small root systems before the cold weather comes.

The pace is starting to quicken at the nursery, as the new planting season dawns - I have spent most of my week gathering apples for long-term storage - running on about 75 varieties picked so far - all in preparation for our APPLE DAY CELEBRATION on SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD.

If you have never been before - it is a great fun day out - we have a lot going on - from games to advice and of course there are over a hundred different apples to taste!!

Definitely one to put in your diary!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

NEW SPECIMEN STOCK NOW IN!

Hello - we have just had the first of our new season stock delivered by a colossal lorry - we have now topped up the SPECIMEN AREA with all sorts of goodies.

From blue and yellow CONIFERS to three types of MAGNOLIA, black and green BAMBOOS - evergreens for screening purposes - multi-stemmed silver BIRCHES - to standard LIQUIDAMBARS,EUCALYPTUS and EVERGREEN OAKS.

We also have got in some super WISTERIAS - quality grafted plants - some with flower buds - in pink, white and dark blue.

And the ever popular evergreen Jasmine - TRACHELOSPERMUM has arrived on the shrub sales area!!!

All of these plants are now in the sales areas - plus many others just waiting for a new home - why not come down to the nursery and see them??

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

HELMINGHAM PLANT SALE - THIS SUNDAY (19TH)

Hello - what a year this is proving for fruit. In 18 years in this industry - I have NEVER seen fruit trees so laden. Are your trees nearly bent double??

Mine certainly are - and that is after all the careful management and thinning I put into them!!!!

Everything is just stuffed - from plums to pears - to Quinces.

With the gales earlier in the week - there has been some branch breakage - but generally the fruit has held on pretty well - although it may look initally alarming to see some of the branches weeping to the ground - they will spring back up into shape once the fruit is picked -and if they do not - you can still remove them when doing your annual winter prune.

Why is there such a bounteous harvest this year??

A combination of strong quality blossom - followed by an excellent growing season - with just the right amount of sun and rainfall has kept things pretty rosy for them.

Tomorrow - SUNDAY 19th - we are exhibiting at the PLANT HERITAGE PLANT FAIR at HELMINGHAM HALL. This is our one and only forray into the Plant Sale world- simply being too busy to attend most of them.

This is an excellent sale - it is open from 10.00 - 4.30 - Helmingham is a fabulous site - on the B1077 just outside Debenham - it is Brown - Tourist Board Signed - an ancient mansion with a fabulous garden and park - last year there were 46 stands with different nurseries - selling everything you could ever want for your garden!!

We will be there with our fruit trees and shrubs - so do come and say Hello!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME - OR SEE YOU AT THE PLANT SALE!!
RICHARD

LAST CHANCE TO PRUNE YOUR PLUMS!!

Hello - have you pruned your plum trees yet?? If not - you need to get your skates on - the end of September is the latest date you can safely prune them - before winter - and still give them time to heal up the cuts.

The problem with pruning any stone fruit - and I include cherries,greengages and damsons in this - is that their wood is soft - and if pruned in winter when the sap is not actively flowing - they cannot repel infection - this will lead to the dreaded Silver Leaf Disease or Bacterial Canker getting in - and that will eventually prove terminal for any tree.

So get them done now - this weekend if poss - do bear in mind though that they do not require spur pruning like apples and pears - all that is usually necessary is to remove one or two larger branches to increase air-circulation - and help remove Brown Rot (See My earlier post on that) - and improve fruit size. The easiest and best rule with these is - to start obviously remove any broken branches - and my Victoria had broken several this year with the heavy crop - also anything that is old and thin is best taken out - other than that - take out crossing stuff - and keep the centre open - I tend to do about 8 cuts on my tree at the most.

Talking about pruning - our PRUNING COURSES are filling up fast - if you intend to come and spend a morning with Graeme and myself learning about fruit tree pruning or shrub pruning - you need to book with the office quickly - places are limited - the dates are NOVEMBER 10TH OR 18TH - this is also open to RHS members - so there will be no possibility of just turning up on the day!!!

If you have never been on a course - and are not sure about it - do come along - it is GREAT FUN - and you will learn a lot - we are very FRIENDLY PEOPLE here you know - yes really!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

AUTUMN COLOUR - IT BEGINS!!

Hello - the beauty of AUTUMN COLOUR - how we love it!! There has been a subtle change at the nursery over the last week - with the cooler nights - and nippy mornings - plus the shortening days - this triggers a change in our plants - and they begin to withdraw some of the chemicals and hormones back into their trunks and branches - causing a breakdown of the green leaf into wonderful pigments of red and orange - giving us A FABULOUS SHOW.

Many of the ACERS - members of the MAPLE family are starting to colour up - as the photo at the top shows -

It is still early - and over the next month - every day - new tints and colours are revealed - in many ways it is the HARVEST period of the nursery - the farmers have their golden fields of corn - and here at CROWN NURSERY - we have our AUTUMN COLOUR and the ripening APPLES - or perhaps I am just an old romantic at heart!!

People often ask which is the best plant for autumn colour - but it really depends on what effect you are trying to achieve - and also your soil. Those on drier sandy soil - slightly on the acidic side will get far more of the orange and red tints than those on wetter clay soil - whose autumn colour tends to be far more towards the yellow side of the spectrum.

However - the creme de la creme if you have a neutral to acid soil has to be LIQUIDAMBAR - The Sweet Gum. As the photo below shows - a STUNNER!! It also has a very ornamental bark too!! This tree - unlike most - starts it's autumn colour on one lower branch and the effect then floods over the rest of the tree - giving a much longer period of colour.

The photo just above that is of AMELANCHIER - but grown on sandy soil - on a heavy clay -it will have yellow autumn colour.

Colour also seems to vary from plant to plant - and in some trees - there will always be stronger autumn colour on some types than others, for the best autumn colour on trees - FRAXINUS 'RAYWOOD' (Claret Ash), QUERCUS RUBRA (Red Oak), PYRUS COMMUNIS (Wild Pear) and even our dear common little SPINDLE - EUONYMUS EUROPAEUS - with it's stange fruit shown below - will oblige in most years.

It's an exciting time - early autumn - and certainly not a time to shut up shop in your garden and prepare for winter - there is much colour to come - from berries to bark - from foliage to fruits - come and see for yourself!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

APPLE DAY - SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD

Hello, - as the season moves into autumn - we are already into our forward planning for our Apple Day - our most busy and popular event of the year!!

If you have never been before we have a lot of fun!! I think I can best describe it as a Celebration of All Things Apple!! We have apple related games - we can offer advice on selection and pruning of apples trees - and most importantly for some - we have a MEGA APPLE TASTING marquee!!!

Last year, we had 107 different varieties available for tasting - and the target this year is 110!!!

Do come down and see us - it is a totally free event - refreshments are available - and the day runs from 10-4.

SEE YOU THERE!!!
RICHARD

THE GOLDEN DAYS OF SEPTEMBER

Hello - what a wonderful week this has been!! The first week of September - and we have had some superb weather - blue skies - and gentle warmth - I love September - the beginning of autumn - but still with that hint of the summer. I should think just about everyone has enjoyed this week - from holiday makers to farmers getting in the harvest - to us gardeners enjoying the lush growth.

Some difference to the weather last week - I was away on holiday in Ireland - where the weather was exactly as now - but back home in Suffolk - over 2 and a half inches of rain fell - together with gale-force winds - typhoons and goodness knows what else. When I returned to the nursery this week - parts of it looked like a re-enactment of the Battle of the Somme!!! Broken trees, damaged branches - support structures twisted and buckled - so much for August!

The beauty of September is that the soil is warm after the summer - but certainly this year - has plenty of moisture enabling an early start to autumn planting schemes. Trees and shrubs planted now will root very quickly - and establish themselves before the colder weather sets in.

We are already taking orders for hedging and fruit trees - the new HEDGING CATALOGUE is now available at the nursery - our new TREE CATALOGUE is also out - and the fruit catalogue is the next for a makeover.

A lot of plants are looking good at the moment - but one of our favourites is the ornamental crab apple - MALUS 'JOHN DOWNIE' - as the photo at the top of the page shows - this is a great tree for any garden - masses of scented apple blossom in the spring - and a profusion of large flagon-shaped orange crab apples in autumn - ideal for making crab-apple jelly!! As an extra bonus - this tree is also an excellent POLLINATOR for dessert and cooking apples.

Talking of apples - the APPLE-TASTING SHED is proving popular as always - there are new varieties ripening every week - currently we have DISCOVERY,TYDEMANS EARLY WORCESTER,BAKERS DELICIOUS,GRENADIER,REV.W. WILKS and SAINT EDMUNDS PIPIPN for customers to taste - and I will add more as they come into season.

This really is one of the best times of the year to look and plan for your autumn planting schemes - many of the trees are displaying great berries and the first signs of autumn colour will be with us soon - the late-summer flowering shrubs are still going great guns - everything is gearing up for a FABULOUS AUTUMN!!

Make sure you don't miss out!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

LATE SUMMER DELIGHTS

Hello, this week we seem to have had a reminder that we are actually still in late summer!! There have been some very warm days - and we are back into the old watering regime - having had a few weeks' grace.

There has definitely been a move towards autumn though - but there are still many lovely plants about on the sales areas - that will keep the colour going right into September and beyond.

It is a record year for fruit - despite early reservations about the late spring frosts we had - most of the trees are dripping with fruit - you only have to go along the A12 - and see the ground smothered in the little red and yellow mirabelle plums that have fallen from the trees.

Wasps aside - the apples are also looking excellent - and talking of apples - what better to go with them in a pie - than the BLACKBERRY OREGON THORNLESS - as the photo shows - a delicious fruit - now coming into it's season - and the beauty of this one is that it not only thorn-free - it has a pretty divided leaf - which often earns it the nickname of the Parsley-leaved Blackberry!!

The hybrid BLACKBERRIES have come a long way from the wild types - and are no longer like some sort of trifid that will take over your plot!!

On the ornamental side - there are lots of super shrubs and climbers still full of flower and interest on the sales areas - the girls have had a bumper year on the cuttings front - and many of these are now out on sale.

Late August can be a dreary time - but there is much to see at the nursery - so why not pay us a visit!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

P.S - I am off on my hols for the rest of the month - so just a reminder that the NURSERY WILL BE CLOSED OVER THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND FROM SATURDAY 28TH TO MONDAY 30TH INCLUSIVE.

THE WASPS ARE BACK IN TOWN!!

Hello - what a bizarre weather pattern we are into now. Several wet days at the nursery this week - some torrential thunderstorms - and next week's forecast is no better!! If you are on holiday - or a farmer trying to get your wheat harvested - then I know you would like a bit of sun - but it is providing us gardeners with early autumnal planting conditions - rather than the desert conditions that Suffolk usually experiences at this time of the year!!

You can actually get a spade into the ground - and the soil still being warm will encourage strong root growth.

There is always a downside to this sort of weather though - and as the previous blog said - the BROWN ROT on PLUMS is extensive. Also the wretched WASPS are back with us - they seem to be building up in large numbers again - attacking any plum or early apple - and they are even going for some of the apples that are still far from ripening - they will destroy fruit if not dealt with.
The old country ways - of tying a jam jar or bottle of cheap lager in amongst the trees - do still work - but you need to get them out early - ours are up in the orchard and on the fruit sales area - and have been for several weeks now.
Of course - if you can locate the nest you can destoy it - but that is often not practical or possible.

As the season moves on - they do tend to disappear - so all is not lost!!



Another skirmish with the wasps in the orchard - has allowed me to put one of my favourite apples - DISCOVERY - into the APPLE SHED for TASTING.

This is a superb variety - with a local connection since it was originally released from Thurston near Bury St Edmunds - it is a cross between the old Beauty of Bath and Worcester Pearmain - combining the best of the parents in a sweet tangy early apple.

I love it - but so do those pesky wasps!!


We are very busy in the planning stages and behind the scenes - for the new autumn season - there will be a number of exciting new changes and developments - if all goes to plan - we are having a slight 'facelift' - and changing some of our literature - and catalogues - so we hope you will like that - the first of our 'new season' catalogues - the ORNAMENTAL TREE CATALOGUE - 2010-2011 is now being printed - if you would like a copy do contact the office -or it will appear online in the next few weeks as well.

Following on from this will be the new HEDGING catalogue and then the FRUIT - again we have some exceptional quality young trees coming on for this autumn and winter planting season - and we will be launching our own variety of apple at this year's APPLE DAY on OCTOBER 23rd - but more of that nearer the time!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME - AND IF THE WASPS DON'T GET ME!
RICHARD

ARE YOUR PLUMS GOING ROTTEN ON THE TREE??

Hello - Several of our customers this week have brought in plums off their trees that are going rotten - and have wondered what they can do about this.

It is called BROWN ROT - and variously affects all plum varieties - although Victoria is often the worst. Sadly it is a result of the current very wet weather that we have had for the last fortnight - it is a fungal infection that quickly gets into fruit.

The sudden increase in moisture that many of our plants are encountering is causing the fruit to crack or split - and it does not take more than a few hours for this to let the brown rot in - and the whole plum will then go rotten - further wet and warm weather allows the problem to pass on through water droplets onto other fruits in the bunch - and before you know it half of the fruit has gone rotten!!

What can you do about it??

Firstly this is not a problem that can be ignored - in severe cases it can get into the wood of the trees as well - and will then be there every single year. Air circulation has a lot to do with it - Victoria is very prone to it since the fruit set is very heavy - and the fruits within the bunches are very close together so the problem quickly spreads.

Remove any rotten fruit you see - as soon as you see it - and destroy it - don't let any fall and lay on the ground since it will get pulled into the ground and remain there ready to reinfect next spring.

Fruit in large heavy clusters should be thinned at the end of May - yes - I know we cannot all reach the tops of our trees - in that case use a pair of long-armed loppers and cut one or two of the densely layered branches off.

Although there are many plum trees that fruit perfectly well without annual pruning - a well-spaced out branched tree will be better for air circulation and there will be a lot less of the Brown Rot problem. Aim for a tree - that you 'could throw a hat through the branches' and it would come through the other side!! In other words - the air can get in.

But - remember - never prune plum or gages in the winter - prune when IN LEAF ONLY!! I prune mine as soon as I have picked the last of the fruit - and definitely before the end of September. And DISINFECT those secateurs or loppers!!!

Also - do not leave any old mummified fruit on the tree once you have picked all the good stuff - they only hold the spores overwinter - knock them to the ground - pick them up - and destroy them.

One of the plums in my orchard was infested with brown rot when we moved into the house - and I cleared that problem up by using the methods above within a year - plums are too nice to lose to rots - so do something about it!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

LOOKING GOOD!!

Hello - there is definitely a slight hint of autumn in the air at the moment. Unlike early July - most of the month was actually quite cool and at times wet!! Some difference to last year!! At least here in Suffolk - last year was the driest on record - and unlike the rest of the country we were seeing conditions more akin to a desert than anything else!

But not this year!! Although the rain has not been universal throughout Suffolk - most places have had something - and the grass is green again - and there is a little bit of moisture in the ground.

Some of our customers have complained of a lack of colour in their gardens - but there are still loads of different items that you could plant right now!!

The first of the seasons tree berries - the Sorbus - Mountain Ashes are starting to show their wonderful berry colour. They are always great for bringing a splash of colour at head height into the garden - and the birds will love them!! The photo at the top of the page shows the beauty of their berry and foliage.

We have a slightly more unusual variant looking real nice right now - Sorbaronia 'Ivan's Beauty' - this is a cross between two different trees - Sorbus and Aronia. They have a beautiful dark - almost purple-black berry - nicely offset by divided foliage. Guaranteed to make any garden beautiful!

Another tree now coming into it's time is the Pride of India - Koelreuteria paniculata - it has divided leaves - which are topped by clusters of yellow flowers - a tree in full flower is a striking sight - and there are not that many trees that flower in August!!

Lower to the ground - one of Kevin's favourite perennials is looking fab at the moment. A superb form of the perennial Hyssop - Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' - he has this outside the office in a stunning display right now. If you have never heard of it - then shame on you!! Aromatic yellow-green leaves make a perfect foil for the spikes of blue flowers - and they are an absolute magnet for bees!! You must get one of these - they are great in any border - in sun - and I also grow them very nicely in pots on the patio too!!

These are just a few of the lovely items we have on our sales areas at the moment - why not pop in and have a look!!

There is a lot to look forward too - there is no longer any excuse to give up on your garden in August any more!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

ARE YOU PLANNING TO PLANT A HEDGE THIS AUTUMN??

Hello - are you planning a session of hedge planting this autumn??

It is now the time to begin to think autumn planting new hedges - or may be gapping up an older one. With the slightly cooler weather - there is definitely a hint of autumn in the air - it will only be a few months before our new season bare-root hedging becomes available again.

To help with this - we have often been asked about the planting and looking after of hedges - and due to that demand - we are putting on an extra morning workshop - on Saturday September 18th from 9.30 - 12.00 - entitled Hedges, living screens for your garden.

Hedges are so varied - they have so many different uses - from screening and privacy to shade, shelter and windbreaks - they provide flower and fruit for wildlife - and offer a huge benfit to the environment - how could any fence panel ever compete with that???!!!

Come and learn all you need to know from selection of different types to planting techniques to the protection they may need from those pesky bunnies - this course will leave you fully inspired to start planting. As a bonus - you will receive a 10 % discount off all hedging plants ordered and paid for on the day - what an enticing offer!!

To book on this course - please contact the office on 01394 460755 - numbers are limited.

UNTIL NEXT TIME.
RICHARD

A NEW APPLE SEASON BEGINS!

Hello,

One of the delights of my job is the fruit side of the nursery - and that means apples!! Here we are, just into August and the start of a brand new season of English apples!! Regular visitors to the nursery will know that we have an Apple Shed in the fruit sales area - and from now until the end of March (or when our customers have eaten them all!!) - we have apples available for you to come and taste!

We grow hundreds of different varieties - and the choice can be a bit over-whelming sometimes - but to actually come to the nursery and to be able to taste them will make your selection so much easier!!

At this early stage - there are only two varieties in - Vista Bella (see photo above) and Beauty of Bath - none of these earlies store very well - but what could be more pleasant than picking a bright red apple - still warm from the sun - and eating it straight off the tree!!!

Over the coming weeks and months - more and more fruit will be added as it ripens - and of course we have our big apple -tasting day at the end of October - Saturday October 23rd -a date for your diary - we will have apples to buy and taste - it is simply a fun day celebrating everything apple!! Do come if you can!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

SUMMER PRUNING DE-MYSTIFIED

Hello,

On Wednesday July 28th - 11 keen gardeners came to the nursery to spend a morning with myself for the latest of our short courses to learn about summer pruning of fruit trees. As with anything connected with the 'p' word - there is much mystery and confusion about the correct techniques. However - hopefully - by the end of the morning session, most people seemed to have got a grasp of the principles behind the practice.

The course began with our usual ' what are you hoping to learn' session - I always like to do this so I can make sure the course is tailored to suit exactly what is required - it is surprising sometimes how I can change the course slightly to bring in a subject that was not originally going to be covered!!

Summer pruning is of particular importance in the training and cultivation of trained fruit trees mostly -espaliers,fans and cordons. Without summer work - these trees would not retain their attractive shape and the potential cropping for next season would be reduced.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they tend to treat their espaliers and fans e.t.c. like a hedge - as soon as it gets too much growth on it - they prune it back - regardless of the time of year!! The whole point of summer pruning is that it is carried out in late summer - usually late July or early August - because the tree growth is just about finished for the year - and the tree is busily making it's flower buds for next spring. It neither has the energy or the time to produce much new growth when pruned in late summer - but if you pruned any of this growth back in May and June - it would simply regrow - since the tree is more interested in growing at that time of the year.

There is much more to be said about the joys of pruning - but that would be more like spoilers for the next course!!!

If you feel that you would like to have a bit more of an idea then our next fruit courses are - Focus on Fruit - Thursday 28th October - 10-1.00 - course fee £25.00 - this is a very general course covering a whole range of topics - or if you are really into the pruning side of it - then Winter Pruning is on either Wednesday 10th November or Thursday 18th November - from 10.30-12.30 either day. This course is specifically aimed at pruning only - and is usually split into shrubs or fruit - depending upon the numbers involved.

To book any of these courses - please do get in early - we have a maximum number - ring the office on 01394 460755.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!

Hello - they say that a week is a long time in politics - but it also seems the same with our summer weather at the moment! From 32c last Friday - to 18C this week - it has been some change! However, I think most of us here at the nursery at least - have been quite glad that it has cooled down - and we actually had over an inch of rain on last Monday - which has changed the grass back to green - and plants have heaved a collective sigh of relief. However - Thursday and Friday saw horrid gale-force winds at the nursery - gusting to 35mph - which caused a lot of damage. Broken branches - flattened plants - broken support structures - a huge tree came down missing going through one of our polytunnels by inches!

We have just about finished clearing up now - and the nursery is returning to normal.

So away from this week's trials and tribulations - onto something nice!!

At this time of year - many of our gardens can start to look a bit drab - especially with the dry weather we have had recently - but here at the nursery - our shrub sales areas are packed with all sorts of lovely items that will take your garden very nicely on into the late summer/early autumn period.

Here are just a few highlights at the moment -

Hydrangeas - these have come a long way since the huge blowsy-headed sorts of years ago - we have a couple of very nice 'candelabra'-headed ones - that look very nice at the moment.

Caryopteris - these are still not widely seen for some strange reason - masses of blue flowers on a compact shrub that is just coming into bud - and will flower for most of August.

Fuchsia - not the basket types - but the bone hardy ones - from the gorgeous 'Lady Boothby' - a mix of red and black - to the dainty tiny pink/white flowers of magellanica 'Alba' - these are stars of any late summer flowers.

Abelia - I cannot understand why everyone has not got this in their garden!! It has the most beautiful semi-evergreen metallic green foliage - and from late July into September dainty clusters of the most wonderful slighty-scented white and pink flowers - relatively compact as well - it should be a must-have!!

Spiraea 'Shirobana' - most of the Spiraeas are spring-flowering - but there are also some stunning summer performers as well. This one has a mix of pink/red and white flowers all on the same plant - changing colour as they age/

Teucriums - these Wall Germanders are just lovely - they are very dwarf and ideal for the front of any borders - evergreen - now coming into bud - very much a Sage type of flower - but a nice carmine pink and flowers throughout August.

Potentillas - these are superb low-growing shrubs - flowering from July to September - in orange to yellow.

And as well we have some superb climbers and wall shrubs - such as the lovely honeysuckle 'Lonicera 'Mint Crisp' - and also the perenial pea - Lathyrus latifolius - very much like a sweet pea in flower - but it comes back every year.

There are many more on the sales areas - so why not come down and have a look - there is always plenty to see - no matter what the weather!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

COPING WITH THE DROUGHT

Hello - since my last blog - we have had a prolonged period of very hot and dry weather - often accompanied by strong winds - the absolute nurseryman's nightmare!

You may remember that in my previous posting - I suggested that this might actually be turning into an 'old-fashioned' English summer - well it does not look like it does it!!! With hosepipe bans being enacted up North - and the prospect of a weekend in the '30's - it is a typical Suffolk July!!

So - rather than bleat about it - you have to get smart - and go with the flow. We are well used to this weather in this part of Suffolk at least - and listening to customers this week at the nursery - it seems that many of them are either very worried or becoming increasingly desperate about the state of their gardens - I can but offer a few bits of advice - purely through experience.

Firstly - the usual quoted advice - forget the lawn!! Unless - of course you adore your stripes!! There are now 'drought-resistant' kinds of turf available - but generally watering the lawn is jst a waste of water - as soon as there is the slightest shower, it will green up again. It is not 'dead' when it is brown - it is simply 'resting'- and will come back.

Big old mature trees - unless they are showing signs of stress - don't bother watering those - it will more likely encourage surface rooting - their roots are down very deep - and they will find their own moisture. The same applies to mature shrubs - really anything that has been in for about 2 or 3 years should be able to fend for itself. The items to concentrate on are those items that have been newly-planted this year. These are only rooted down into the top foot or so of soil - and there really is no moisture there - so they will need water - how much - well that depends on your soil and situation - but clay soil will always hold onto moisture a lot longer than sand.

There is often conflicting advice about whether to water little and often - or only when things are really wilted - with a heavy water. Here, at the nursery - we do not do wilted plants!! Once a plant reaches the stage of wilting - it is in serious stress - and is likely to suffer long-term problems if not treated quickly - so our view - is that plants should NEVER reach the wilted stage - yes - I hear you saying - it's easy for you to say that - you have an automatic watering system - that is true - but in my own garden at home - which is very heavily-planted - I manage to keep stuff watered- all of the beds and borders have leaky pipe irrigation - which is easily worked on an alternate basis - giving something water every night - leaving the containers and baskets to be watered every day.

It is always better to water in the evening - watering in the morning in these sort of temperatures will lead to them quickly drying out - evening watering means that they have 10 hours of cool to absorb it before the heat returns next day.

Mulching - why do more people not mulch their plants?? Bare-soil will lead to mega evaporation - it gets hot and cracks - nature does not allow this to happen - bare-soil is always covered up with foliage - in our own gardens we can do the same - but in a more ornamental way - with bark - it keeps the sun off the roots - keeping them cool and holding moisture - that is how I have my leaky pipe - it keeps beautifully moist under there.

I have a big dustbin on my patio - and all of the washing-up water goes in there - and I can then use that water on my plants - why on earth pay for that water to go down the drain??!!

Fruit trees need a lot of water - but again if it is at a premium - only water those that have decent crops on - with a young tree - it will be hugely beneficial to the tree to leave only half a dozen fruits on it - that fruit is full of water - and that can be used elsewhere.

There has also been some advice about pruning back the 'softer' growth on shrubs and trees - the suggestion being that this takes most of the water - and the older growth is better able to withstand drought. This is new advice to me - but I see the logic in it - although it would need to be done with care - since the shape and potential flowering next year of some items could be compromised by incorrect pruning.

I think basically it is perfectly normal for plants to be short of water in high summer - it is how we deal with it that is important - we can still have beautiful gardens at this time of year - even if the GRASS is brown!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME - STAY COOL!
RICHARD

AN OLD-FASHIONED ENGLISH SUMMER??

Hello - what lovely weather we are enjoying at the moment. This is more like 'Flaming June' - than a few weeks ago!!

This whole summer so far is actually turning out to be more of a 'traditional' English summer than of late in Suffolk. The last few years have seen very extreme weather - and dry springs which in turn have caused serious drought problems later on in the summer. This year - so far at least - we seem to have been heading more towards a few showers spread nicely throughout May and June keeping everything very happy - the old country saying ' A shower in June keeps everything in tune' is very much spot on this year.

To actually still have green grass on the lawns in late June is unheard of in Suffolk lately - and I think anyone who has shrubs or roses or fruit trees can see how well they look this year - all that winter moisture is still there deep down - and these 'top-up' showers are just what the doctor ordered!! Even if we now have six weeks of heat and dry - the plants are in a far better position than they were last year.

At the nursery, we are nicely into our summer routine. Once the Suffolk Show passes - we tend to drop down a gear and nursery life runs very smoothly between irrigation, propagation, pruning and training of young stock - and generally getting on top of all those jobs that got left over the really busy spring period.

That is not to say - we do not still welcome visitors to the nursery - we have more time to talk to you now than in the winter!!

Back to the Suffolk Show - several people have commented on our stand during their visit to the nursery - and we thank them again for their generous comments. Several of you have expressed interest in how the straw bales - the original gro-bag idea came together. The use of straw bales is certainly not a new idea - but it has in the past been used pretty much exclusively for melons and courgettes and the like - and less so for other veg, it seemed to Graeme in planning the Edible Garden that this was a resource that was very under-used. In terms of wheat against barley as the source of the bale - it does not really seem to make much difference - but it is necessary to have bales that are preferably a year old - and just starting to turn colour. These are much easier to wet than new bales - and keeping them wet was one of the problems we found. It took some time and much water to get them soft to allow planting into the tops of them, but of course this also led to another problem in that disintegration of the bale would happen faster when wet - coupled with an attempt to transport them to the showground - and it became obvious that they would have to be on raised pallets.

It also became obvious that the plants to go in them needed to be of a decent size to start with - otherwise an inevitable amount of seed growth from the excess grain within the bale overwhelmed them when they were young. Holes were cut out with a very sharp knife and saw - and chicken pelleted manure placed underneath - the plants were then put in - and a little compost used to firm them in. Fortnightly liquid-seaweed extract gave all the necessary nutrients and pushed the plants on nicely. And - most importantly - the bales were all stored under an overhead watering system keeping the moisture in. After six weeks - it became evident that they were rooting well down into the straw - and the changing colour of the bale suggested that it was providing nutrient breakdown as well.

The week before the show - the final prep took place - and they made their way up the A12 to the showground - everybody was concerned they may not survive the journey - but I am pleased to report other than a rogue courgette - they got there in one piece!! We had deliberately grown and taken extra plants to cope with this possibility - so yet again - forward planning is essential - hopefully most of you out there who may want to copy this idea - may not try to transport your efforts TO a county show!!

They are still here at the nursery for people to see - although a certain amount of harvesting is taking place - particularly on the lettuces - so the bales are not as full as they were - but after all - they are meant to be functional as well as beautiful!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME - ENOJY THE SUN!
RICHARD

SUFFOLK SHOW - WE HAVE WON IT AGAIN!

Hello - apologies for the delay in this blog - but the last fortnight has been absolutely crazy with the Suffolk Show.

Well - we have won it again! For the second year running, our large stand in the Flower Show Marquee was awarded a Large Gold Medal and The Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Best in Show. This is the second time we have won the Cup - we were over the moon last time - and we are absolutely delighted to win it again!!

I would like to say a huge Thank You to all of you who came and saw us over the two days of the show - and thank you so very much for all your kind comments. A big Thank You to the entire Crown Nursery team - without them none of this would have taken place. And also a big Thank You to Sue Hedger-Brown - for helping me to add that extra 'twist' to our design this year.

For those of you unable to make the show - I have posted a few photos of the stand to give you an idea.

In planning this one, there were always the obvious aims - to promote the plants we sell at the nursery, to publicise all that we do - and to make as big a 'wow-effect' as we could. Any stand that we feature has to have a large emphasis on trees - and we are of course fortunate to have some huge semi-mature versions that lend themselves beautifully to show-work. This year's focus was on the 45 year-old weeping Blue Cedars - Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' that we have had at the nursery for many years.

However, being so incredibly wide and low - gave us difficulties getting them into the Flower Show Marquee - we did this by starting a week before the Show when nobody else was there - so we could take up the entire area with all our vehicles.

Then came the next problem of how to actually display them - Graeme came up with the clever idea of raising them up on pallets - and this is what we did - giving a cascade effect - and allowing underplanting beneath them. The central one was actually on seven pallets - and then the second tree on four pallets and so on - it certainly worked - and when the pallets were all hidden by a mixture of hessian netting and heavy planting - nobody could have guessed how it was done!!

Once these, and the Weeping Silver Birch, Upright Hornbeam and Copper Beech were in - the rest of the stand built very nicely. A heavy layer of shrubbery hid a multitude of sins - and then it was to the two main beds full of glorious colour from perennials. The path this year - was all within our theme of 'A modern twist on an old Design' - which meant that they were made from Spring Ring off-cuts - this is a material that we use to pot trees into. It actually worked very well.

But the main 'twist' this year was the use of the metal 'Pyramids' to punctuate the design - a rather brave idea of mine - I must admit I was unsure to start with - but it did work out in the end!!

They were 'softened' by the planting - which was a heady mix of perennials,herbs and shrubs. I used some of my favourite combinations for this - and it generally seemed to receive a good response. Alchemilla mollis with Chives - Fennel with Aquilegia studded through it - French Lavender with Purple Elder and Curry Plant - there now - I am not going to give everything away!!

Outside Graeme did his 'Edible Garden' stand - but again a twist this year was the use of straw bales - as the 'original Grow-bag'!! These generated much interest.

Along with the usual mix of vegetables fruit and herbs in the raised beds - hopefully it inspires everybody to 'get out there' and have a go yourself!

So - we have got everything back in it's place at the nursery - and we are just about recovered - it was an incredible fortnight - but so well worth it - to hear people's comments. We are only a small nursery - but for a couple of weeks - we felt like we were up there with the 'Chelsea Boys'!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

IT'S SHOWTIME!!

Hello, well it is almost upon us - the Suffolk Show - it's very nearly showtime!!

The coverage of Chelsea Flower Show has been all over the papers and TV all week - but our 'Chelsea' is next week at the Suffolk Show.

Final preparations on the plants are now just about complete - there are 85 different species on the stand ranging from trees to shrubs to perennials - and just under 800 plants in total! As always it is a mammoth task - and a logistical nightmare - but we begin construction this afternoon - and will be there most of the Bank Holiday Weekend. It is only a two day - show - (Wednesday and Thursday next week - 2nd and 3rd June) but it requires a marathon effort to get everything where it needs to be.

Of course, it is not even just the plants - it is the mulch - the 'hard landscaping' features - the 'nuts and bolts' of the stand.

It takes three vehicles three days to get everything up there - and it takes exactly the same to bring it all home again!!

I freely admit to feeling rather anxious about the prospect - but if you are not feeling like that before such a major project - then you are probably not human!!

On the plus side - there are some superb plants ready to go up there - the slightly cooler weather this week could not have come better really - it has slowed down those plants that were racing away - and those that were a little behind are now in the warmth of the tunnel just 'finishing off'.

Graeme's 'Edible Garden' demonstration is also taking shape - this will be just outside the entrance to the Flower Show. Our main stand is inside the Flower Show Marquee - at the far end - near the catering department!!

Do come and see us if you are visiting the show - we would love to see you!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

NOTE - THIS WEEKEND IS A BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND - AND THE NURSERY WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FROM SATURDAY TO MONDAY INCLUSIVE DUE TO LOCAL PLANNING RESTRICTIONS.

NEXT WEEK - THE SUFFOLK SHOW IS ON WEDNESDAY 2ND JUNE AND THURSDAY 3RD JUNE - SINCE MOST OF THE NURSERY IS UP AT THE SHOW - THE OPENING HOURS OF THE NURSERY WILL BE AFFECTED - SO IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT NEXT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY - PLEASE RING THE OFFICE ON 01394 460755 TO CHECK THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY OPEN ON THAT DAY - 'NORMAL SERVICE' WILL RESUME FROM FRIDAY 4TH JUNE ONWARDS!!

SOME LIKE IT HOT!!

Hello - phew what a scorcher!! Temperatures have soared at the nursery to 25C - some difference to last week - when the best we could make was 12C!!!

It is nice if you are laying on a beach - but rather hot in the tunnels at the moment - but really we should not complain!!

As long as plants have sufficient moisture - they will make very rapid growth now. But again I stress AS LONG AS THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT MOISTURE. Soil moisture evaporates literally overnight in these sort of conditions - so it is very important that all new planting is well-watered in - and kept well-watered for at least the next few months.

On the plus side - it looks a very promising fruit set this year - uninterrrupted blossom-time has led to the trees appearing to be stuffed full of fruitlets - even despite the late frosts last week - but only time will tell - never count your chickens before they are hatched - or your fruit before the June drop!!!

Otherwise the nursery is obsessed with one project only - Operation S.S - The Suffolk Show!!! In the last week - I have allocated almost 500 plants for it alone - and there are still more to come!!

It may only be a two-day show (June 2nd and 3rd) - but it takes just as much time as a week-long event!!

If all goes as planned - (does it ever??) - then we should have something quite DIFFERENT for you to see!!

Do come and see us - we are in the Flower Tent -at the catering end - with our huge main display - and also just outside the entrance with our raised beds demonstration.

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

THE STOP-START SPRING

Hello - what a strange spring this is turning out to be. April seemed to give promise of a really warm spring - but so far May has turned that completely on it's head!

Freezing cold North-east winds - and several nights of frost this week have tested some of the new growth and all the fruit blossom that is about at the moment. Like many other gardeners- it has been out with the fleece on several nights this week - trying to protect the new soft growth. At the moment - it does not seem to have done any serious damage - but time will tell on the fruit blossom - it can affect the small fruitlets - and I expect that the plums and the pears will show some damage in a month's time. This can vary from fruitlet drop - to cracking on the skin - but again - only time will tell.

The good news is that the forecast says that it will warm up over the weekend - so that should remove the threat of frost.

Staying with fruit blossom - I do think that in 18 years in this industry I have never seen a better crop of APPLE BLOSSOM. The trees are laden with bloom - and it would seem to be of very good quality too - very large flowers - which should lead to a decent fruit set. I think this is due to weather patterns - last year's summer was excellent for setting flower buds - a little bit of dryness at the root often causes plants to produce more flowers than growth - and certainly in Suffolk last July and August when the flower buds were formed was like a desert!! Then came the cold winter - fruit trees need a period of cold to fully iniate their buds - this is called VERNALISATION. It is still not fully understood - but if they do not receive a period of cold their flowers do not iniate properly.

It always reminds me of the time when I used to work on a commercial fruit farm - and we used to open the orchards for Blossom Walks - with a small donation to charity - they were alwaya very popular. Apple Blossom is one of the highlights of spring for me - and unlike the Flowering Cherries - you know that you are going to get a bounty of fruit in 5 or 6 months time!!

I have noticed on the apple trees this week - that in amongst the blossom - PRIMARY MILDEW is starting to appear. We have all seen this before -the powdery silvery deposit on leaves. It can be very devastating - and the leaves that have it at the moment - are those that were affected last autumn - and the fungus has overwintered on the buds. It must be removed as soon as it is seen - otherwise it will spread to the new growth. Cut it off - bin it or burn it and don't forget to DISINFECT your secateurs before changing trees - otherwise you will pass it on!!!
We call it primary mildew - because it is the first of the year - and will become SECONDARY MILDEW once it reaches the new growth - and is harder to control.

It is also the time to hang PHEROMONE TRAPS for Plum Maggot Moth in your plum and greengage trees. These really do work - and are a very effective organic and non-chemical way of stopping maggots in your plums - there is one for Apple Codling Moth - but that will not be put out until after petal fall.

Otherwise here at the nursery, it has been another busy old week. Much activity on the propagation front - the girls taking cuttings of many shrubs and perennials - whilst the growth is soft and strong. If you stand still long enough at the moment - it seem as though someone will be round you with a pair of secateurs for a cutting - so visitors watch out!!

For my own part - Operation S.S is well and truly launched. No - this is not some top-secret military battle - although it could be viewed in that way- it is the plans for the SUFFOLK SHOW. Plant allocation is underway - it is always something I enjoy - pulling together plants from all the different sales area for our stand - hopefully showing the best of what we do here at the nursery.

With the show only a fortnight away - (2nd and 3rd June) - trying to work out what will actually be in flower is as difficult as ever. Interestingly though - several items that we would not usually expect to be out in flower look as though they will be - due to the cold weather at the moment that has delayed them. If it turns hot next week though - that will all go out of the window - so we shall just have to see!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY

Hello - a very changeable week on the weather front. Predicting the weather from day to day this week has been as difficult as predicting last night's General Election result! Whether you could say we have a 'hung' weather pattern at the moment I am not sure!!

At times, it has felt more like March here at the nursery - the wind has swung round to the North-East, and is blowing off somewhere very cold - there is a real chill in the air! On the plus side though, most of us have seen some much-needed rainfall - I say most of us - because some people have had three times the amount others have - so again very variable.

A busy week though - a lot of potting on and propagation of shrubs from cuttings has gone on. This will lead - hopefully - to some very fine plants for later on in the year.

We are now sold out of ASPARAGUS - so if you were still hoping to get some planted this spring - then I am afraid you are too late!!

However - the sales area where the ASPARAGUS was, has now been changed for a nice little display of HERBS. These plants remain ever popular - grasses and perennials come and go - but herbs seem to hold their own. The beauty of SCENTED FOLIAGE and culinary use as well - means there is a lot to be said for these plants. Most of them are only small or compact - and fit very well into small spaces - so ideal for patio pots and planters.

From the larger shrubby items such as ROSEMARY and LAVENDER to the sub-shrubs such as SAGE - there is much to enjoy about this group of plants.

Many people adore the smaller THYMES that creep along the ground - those such as the LEMON THYME are just smashing when their leaves are crushed. Combine those with OREGANO or CHIVES and you have a winning combination!

Another highlight of this week was our course - SPRING IN YOUR GARDEN. Five keen gardeners came on a bright but blustery day to learn about those little tips and tricks of the trade that can keep your garden looking good at this busy time of the year.

Next week will see the preparation for the SUFFOLK SHOW stands step up a gear. There is already much stock allocated - but with only 3 or so weeks to go - much planning will begin to materialise into plants - hopefully!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

THE JOYS OF SPRING!

Hello - what a beautiful week. It really is an absolutely glorious time of year.

It does not matter how many springs you have seen - they never fail to please. This week has seen a beautiful mix of sun and showers - which has helped to keep plants in tune a bit more - there have also been several overcast days which help that young soft growth to harden up a bit - and survive the extremes a bit better.

I think perhaps this spring - more than most - it has been noticeable how fast stuff is growing. The trees are literally coming into leaf overnight - and the new growth on climbers and perennials is quite stunning.

However - there are problems appearing - aphid is already apparent on some plants - and we are monitoring new growth to ensure there is no setback.

We are still getting a lot of reports from customers about dead or apparently dead shrubs in their gardens - these are a hangover from the vicious winter weather. It is predominantly evergreens that are mentioned - but as I have said before - the evergreens do not start producing new growth until mid-May - so it is far too early to give up on anything yet!

The BLOSSOM is outstanding this year - the PLUMS and CHERRIES are in full flower - and the early-flowering APPLE BLOSSOM is starting. I adore apple blossom - not only for the lovely scent - but also that beautiful mix of pink and white - as the buds unfurl.

Talking of APPLE BLOSSOM - the Malus - the FLOWERING CRAB APPLES are now starting their season of glory. They nicely follow on from the PRUNUS - the FLOWERING CHERRIES. We grow many beauties - but what is so much better about the Crab Apple versus Cherry conundrum is that the Crab Apples will all have decorative fruit in the autumn - which sadly the Flowering Cherries will not have. This put together with their small size - and the ability to grow well on most soils score them a lot of brownie points in the tree stakes.

As to which varieties to grow - well it depends on what you want them for. Since they are all superb in blossom - it comes down to those with larger fruits - if you want to make Crab Apple Jelly those like JOHN DOWNIE are your best bet - there are more ornamental types like the purple-leaved forms - and then there are some that just outstanding all across the board - like 'WHITE STAR' and MALUS TRANSITORIA - they have it all - wonderful blossom - and great fruit.

There now - if you had not realised it - I quite like CRAB APPLES - why not take a closer look at them yourself - you may be pleasantly surprised!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

REMEMBER - THIS IS A BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND - AND DUE TO LOCAL PLANNING RESTRICTIONS - THE NURSERY IS CLOSED OVER THE WHOLE WEEKEND - FROM SATURDAY TO MONDAY INCLUSIVE.

THE GREAT WATER GAME BEGINS!!

Hello - what a week!! It has felt more like July here at the nursery than April.

For the most part, we have had blue skies and a blazing hot sun - that chilly wind has still been about - but even that should disappear in the next few days.

There have been several quite sharp overnight frosts - which with the blossom and young growth has been a bit of a concern - but it does not seem to have done any serious damage at the moment.

Of much bigger concern though is how dry it has become - yet again!

It is incredible to think that after one of the coldest and wettest winters on record - we are now finding a number of plants are starting to run short of water. We have not actually had any rain for three weeks in Suffolk - Easter Saturday was the last really wet day.

There is plenty of moisture down below - but the top of the ground has got very hard and really dried out - mostly due to a lethal combination of hot sun and strong winds - the old NURSERYMAN'S NIGHTMARE. Anything newly-planted or newly-potted must be kept well-watered for successful rooting.

After last summer - when it did not rain for 6 months in East Anglia - the signs are ominous that it is going exactly the same way this year. Great weather if you are laying on a beach - but if you are a serious gardener or running a nursery with thousands of plants - you may not be quite so happy!!

So we have had to bring our irrigation programme forward - and we are now running a full summer schedule - all the trees and all the stock areas have been brought online - and the bore hole is churning out water left, right and centre. It is still far too early to say what the summer is going to bring - but the early signs would suggest it could be a scorcher!!

Whatever the outcome - we must always stay ahead of the game - water is one of the most difficult operations to manage on the nursery - too little and plants will quickly go backwards - too much and they will also suffer. We change our irrigation programme daily to suit the weather - and the many different environments on the nursery - but it is a headache to be sure. With no decent rainfall on the horizon - it will occupy a lot of my thoughts - probably for the next six months!!

Something else that is starting to occupy our thoughts as well is the SUFFOLK SHOW. We will again have two stands there - one outside the flower show made up of edible stuff - from fruit to herbs - to vegetables - and our usual huge display inside the marquee.

Although the show is eight weeks away - preparations are well underway - and we are starting to get some serious items allocated in advance. Although it is only a two-day show - it takes up an enormous amount of time and energy - so forward planning is all important.

We have also begun our SHRUB CUTTINGS programme this week. Certain items do very well from cuttings at this time of year - so the girls are busily harvesting the young growth - a little time spent now will provide hundreds of new plants for the autumn season.

Other than that - there is much potting on of young stock preparing for the autumn planting season - there look at that - we are planning for autumn already - and it is only just spring!!
But you have to get ahead in this game - there's no prize for being behind!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
RICHARD

THE CURSE OF THE BLACKTHORN WINTER

Hello - well it has happened again!! What you may ask is he on about this week? - I am talking about the old Blackthorn Winter. The Suffolk countryboys always say that when the Blackthorn or Sloe is in flower - the weather is cold. In hedges everywhere - the white blossom is appearing - and we have had a nagging cold North-easterly wind - and chilly old nights - all week long.

It is a strange - but true fact - that whether the Blackthorn flowers in late March as in most years - or as this year 3 weeks later than normal - in 9 years out of 10 - it will be cold when it is in flower.

Luckily - it only flowers for 7-10 days - so hopefully this chilly wind will not last long.

So - here on the nursery - another busy old week. A lot of customers are very busy getting their final trees and shrubs into the ground before they really start to grow away. It loooks like being another vintage year for blossom - the photo above is of another impressive tree at the moment - or often seen as a bushy shrub - that is AMELANCHIER CANANDENSIS - the SNOWY MESPILUS. This is a tree or shrub that is much more widely seen now - it is creeping into many of the council plantings - and for good reason. It has much going for it - superb spring blossom which contrasts beautifully with the bronze young leaves - edible berries in June - and superb orange and red autumn colour - no wonder it is so popular!! The tree form we have is AMELANCHIER 'ROBIN HILL' - a slightly pinker blossom - but it is definitely a tree and not a shrub - nice and straight - but not too big for a small garden.

We are busy potting on a lot of potential new FRUIT items for next season - we have selected and potted on new CORDON APPLES and some of the larger rootstocks that are in demand at the moment. These will be grown on - and hopefully some of them will be available for sale in the autumn.

We still have ASPARAGUS CROWNS for immediate planting - along with potted SOFT FRUIT - SUCH AS RASPBERRIES - GOOSEBERRIES- RHUBARB - BLACKCURRANTS - and FIGS.

On the shrub front - the girls have been busily restocking the shrub sales area with all sorts of lovely items - there are some superb CLIMBERS coming through the system - the new growth on the HONEYSUCKLES is really coming along. We also have some nice CLIMBING HYDRANGEAS about to go out on the sales area - it is a busy and wonderful time of the year with new growth pushing on - it is just that it would be nice if this horrid cold wind would go away since it is devastating on the new growth.

There are many nice shrubs about - but one of our favourites is in full glory now - if you think all of the FLOWERING CURRANTS are pink or red - or smell of cats - then you are in for a surprise!! There is a cracker - a little -known plant called RIBES ODORATUM - THE BUFFALO CURRANT. (SEE THE PHOTO OF THE FLOWERS ABOVE) This has yellow flowers - not red - and it has a WONDERFUL SPICY SCENT - these are followed in some years - by BLACK BERRIES - so with the glossy shiny foliage as well - you have a highly desirable shrub - I think everybody should have one!!

A lot of customers coming into the nursery this week - are asking about winter damage to their EVERGREEN SHRUBS. I mentioned this once before - with the harshest winter weather for 30 years in Suffolk - many of the evergreen shrubs are still recovering. In my own garden - there have been lots of broken branches and twigs - and twisted stems - on the evergreens where the snow and ice has been bearing them down. A little snipping here and there will sort those out - but other less sheltered areas have seen people lose plants completely.

While it is not surprising that sub-tropical plants such as Yuccas and Cordylines have perished - some gardeners are telling us that they have lost large specimens of Viburnum tinus and Mahonias even! I think that it is worth waiting until the end of May before condemming anything totally!! It may well resprout - but until the weather changes totally - they will remain in dormancy - so give the poor old things a bit longer!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD