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