Error message

  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: addressfield. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: backup_migrate. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: calendar. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_addressbook. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_autosku. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_cart. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_checkout. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_customer. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_customer_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_custom_product. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_email. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_features. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_flat_rate. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_giftaid. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_hide_shipping. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_line_item. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_line_item_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_message. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_order. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_order_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment_example. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_paypal. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_paypal_wps. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_price. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_pricing. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_pricing_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_reference. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_sdf. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_shipping. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_shipping_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_sp. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ss. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ssr. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_stock. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_stock_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_fancy_attributes. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_file. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).

Renovating old fruit trees

Probably one of the most difficult decisions to make with a garden is what to do about old fruit trees. They are going to remain large and dominate an area if left, yet are also a source of immediate production and a shame to remove. If they are in the way and have to go for good reasons then their crop can usually be replaced with another new tree planted elsewhere. But do not use the excuse that a tree is old and past renovating.

More fruits than you can imagine

Fruits are good for us. They are the only food nature wants us to eat. Forget vegetarianism; lettuce, leeks and carrots no more want to be eaten than does a chicken. But fruits, well fruits are sweet sugary bribes to get us to spread the seeds. It is what plants want to do, it is their nature to fruit so they happily show improvement with a little selection. Our modern apples and pears are a long way from the wild crab. The strawberry of today did not exist at all but two centuries go. We only had small sorts such as the alpine and wild woodland ones.

The Pome or apple related fruits

The Pomeor apple related fruitsAlmost every garden of any size has an apple tree or two. These crop on year after year with barely anything ever done for them. We really do not appreciate how valuable such low maintenance and reliable fruits these and the other pomes, as this group are known, are. Closely related to apples with similar needs and few problems are the pears, less closely related but still similar are quinces, and the medlar.

Fruit pollination

Almost every fruit we grow needs pollinating and in many cases if we want the best crops we cannot rely on nature to do the job for us. Unfortunately vicissitudes of the weather makes outdoor pollination hit and miss some years and the recent scarcity of honey bees has made things worse. Under cover the conditions may be better but in there there are few natural pollinating agents and effectively no wind.

Peaches, easier than you think

You have not fully lived till you have eaten a luscious perfectly ripened home grown peach still sun warm from the tree. Home grown a peach is so much better than the shop bought item which may look similar but can never be as perfumed or fully matured. Indeed if it were it would not survive the transport home as a ripe peach almost bursts in your hands like a balloon full of syrup. Although you may not realise it they are also rich in vitamins and so health giving as well as a pleasure to eat. And, if you choose the right way, they are easier to crop than you think.

Ornamental garden fruits

There is no accounting for taste, we all may like completely different fruits, or not according to whim or habit. However most of us very rarely grow or enjoy anything other than the unremarkable; apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, plums and so on. These are the main subjects for every fruit book. More comprehensive books venture further with medlars, mulberries, Boysenberries, blueberries maybe even Japonica quinces. Yet there are many more fruits with just as interesting flavours in our hedgerows and flower gardens going ungathered and effectively unseen.

The Orchard house method

This is probably one of the most important ways you can extend your season for fruits, and vegetables. The original idea goes back to Victorian times when it was noticed that crops housed under cover were far more infested with pests and diseases than outdoor versions. And secondly that hardy productive fruits such as peaches and grapes often failed to thrive in permanently warm conditions. It was eventually realized that many crops physiologically demanded a minimum dormancy, in the region of a couple of months, of actual cold.

Nut crop

The Nuts as a group have one immense drawback to most kitchen gardeners- they generally make large trees. So far none of the true nuts is available in anything like as compact a form as say apples or pears, nor even plums. Indeed most nuts fit better the area beyond the kitchen garden rather than within. However the hazel family can, in theory, be constrained by regular pruning and sweet almonds are relatively small trees, which, if deemed worth the immense work load, can be trained on walls with their fruiting wood continuously replaced on the renewal scheme as for peaches.

Not another nut?

As you may have noticed in my previous articles I am obsessed by the need to develop more edible wild plants into garden worthy esculents. Just as we created the modern strawberry, cabbage, apple, sweet pepper, carrot, parsnip and so on. Most of our fruits and vegetables are quite distinctly different from their wild ancestors. They are larger, sweeter and less fibrous and although cultivation helps it is selection and hybridization that have worked the improvement.

Not very hardy fruits

(Citrus, guava, loquat, myrtle, olive, physalis, melon and watermelon)

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