GARDENING
CASTLE GARDENS New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR Tel: 01935 814633
HARVESTING FRUIT
BRIMSMORE GARDENS Tintinhull Road, Yeovil BA21 3NU Tel: 01935 411000
By Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group
POUNDBURY GARDENS Peverell Avenue, Poundbury DT1 3RT Tel: 01305 257250
I quite enjoy harvesting fruit at this time of year and especially if it’s from the wild, or at least not from tame parts of the garden or countryside. We used to call it ‘scrumping’ in Devon and, after school, waiting for the bus, we would head to a large crab apple tree which overhung the school yard. It may have been just a wild tree, but on looking back, it could well have been the variety John Downie, as the fruit was quite large and we managed to eat them without too many after effects! We were in Yorkshire a few weeks ago and went bilberry picking on the moors (known by Devonians as whortleberries). Bilberries are a relative of the blueberry but much smaller, so it’s dedicated work but the resulting pie was magnificent. Back home the blackberries were just starting to ripen and although there were then no home-grown apples ready, it won’t be long before an old
Bramley apple tree will begin to be productive and the classic combination – hopefully as a crumble – will be possible. Elsewhere we have a number of old plum and damson varieties dotted around. These are probably growing from the rootstock of some longlost variety, but are all still consistently productive. This is especially surprising this year, as when the blossom was out in the spring, conditions were very cold and wet and not at all conducive to pollinating insects. However, the crops are abundant, and, at the time of writing, the fruit is ripening steadily meaning that we should get to use most of the fruit… and with wasps being in low numbers we won’t be competing with those fellas for once. (By the way I am a fan of the wasp which isn’t something
THE FENCING & GATE COMPANY
you often hear. They are an amazing friend in the garden, tackling all kinds of insect pests, and it’s only later in the summer that they become pesky to us.) In the garden we have an old Myrobalan plum which usually produces masses of flower and then thousands of tiny fruits. These are not to be eaten from the tree even when fully ripe, but they make a great, if sour, sauce. This tree must have been affected by the poor weather when in flower as there is very little fruit this year. Whereas this is a shame for me, it’s also not good news for the wood mouse (or maybe even dormouse) who gnaws away at the stone to get to the almond-like seed inside. This seed is poisonous to us if eaten in large enough quantities, but seemingly it’s fine for our mouse friend! I undertook the first harvest of plums last week and a crumble
www.thegardensgroup.co.uk
was made. They went in whole with blackberries too. Some may criticise this as lazy but I was recalling the counting rhyme ‘Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor...’ and in today’s sanitised world it’s important that we still keep such traditions going. The career prediction for me got to ‘beggarman’, but only after second helping! Later in the month the first pears will be ready. These are old varieties, long forgotten, and can be tough but still flavoursome. These are planted against the walls in the garden centre and sometimes there is an old metal label behind giving the name, but in many cases this has long disappeared. It doesn’t help writing this before dinner, as I’m already looking forward to the possibility of a plum crumble this evening – only if I go scrumping first though.
Domestic Fencing Specialist All types of fencing and gates supplied and erected Over 30 years experience Free Survey and Quotation 10 year guarantee • No VAT
01935 330 095 01460 353 046 12
Garden Landscape & Construction Services
www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk 01935 324737
To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk
