Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,

I've recently taken on an allotment. I want to devote around a 1/3 rd of it to fruit. I reckon if I buy 1 yr old seedlings this could add up to hundreds of pounds. I'd really like 1 or 2 of all different types of fruit (or nuts) that could possibly be grown from seed like plum, rhubarb, currants, etc. This will only delay fruit production by one year, am I correct?

I thought that many of you will be harvesting fruit at this time of the year or rather soonish and could maybe spare a seed or two from any amazing varieties. I'm also looking for asparagus seed.

I have a box full of veg seed and my (searchable) blog shows many of the plants I have that I could possibly make cuttings from. If you need anything, just let me know!

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

There are some problems with growing fruit from seed, they can take a number of years to produce and the varieties may not come true either, so when they do fruit they may not be as good as the parents.
You would be better trying to find someone on your site that has overcrowded rhubarb crowns they want to divide. These will only take a year to establish, then you can start cropping. Soft fruit like currants, gooseberries and raspberries can be obtained from cuttings from prunings put in around now and left in the ground overwinter, so again, see if anyone is pruning their bushes and ask for their 'rubbish'. They should be rooted next year and you can plant them into their positions. Also people with raspberries often have canes growing in the 'wrong' place they might be willing to offload. Strawberry plants are now making runners, so you could get plants from someone who already has some. Often there are far more runners than the owner can accomodate as replacement plants.
Alternatively, if you have to buy, use the above ideas to increase your stock from your own plants. As far as trees like plums, cherries etc are concerned, there really isn't much choice except to buy, but there are often bargains to be had from supermarkets etc, although you might not get much choice of root stock or variety.
I have in the past grown cobnuts from seed (nuts), they are quite easy, but do take a long time to fruit (my mum is still waiting 5 years on). I bought 2 bushes last year, and this year they have produced 3 nuts, so next year, once they are more established, I should get more nuts.
If you are more into it for the fun rather than the crop, then by all means try growing from seed, you may find some really good new variety, but you will need patience to find out.

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I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!

http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

Check your allotment rules about planting fruit & trees. Some don't allow it. Nuts are large trees/bushes.

Anyway: blackcurrant grows very easily from cuttings. Beg some off another plot holder. Ditto rhubarb (cut a bit off the main crown)

Strawberries grow from runners... plot holders will be glad to give some away rather than compost them.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Good information here! I'll have to have a mosey around the allotments this weekend, giving a few well timed "oohs" and "ahs"!

Two Sheds: The first thing I looked for in the allotment manual was "May I grow fruit or raise chickens?" We have to ask permission in writing for building a shed or to raise chickens , but there are no problems with fruit unless they are shading another's allotment. I plan to grow fruit hedges by espaliering as many as possible. I might even grow a fence of fanned fruit trees on home grown coppices of hazel (which would be great if the roots were infused with truffle spores!) or non-invasive bamboo. I have nothing but tons of time, I'm only 30!

hm, I wonder if the little shoots that grow up out of dwarfing root stock can be rooted to "grow your own root stock."

By the way, I'm kind of new to this gardening thing so lately I have been experimenting with taking cuttings from herbs. I've tried thyme, mint (apple), and munstead lavender. I am also rooting 8 Cambridge strawberry plants from the runners and should have more soon. They seem to be doing well. Going to try purple sage, rosemary (purple flowers), the other three types of lavender that I have (one is pink). I have four autumn fruiting raspberry canes that I got bare rooted earlier in the year. There is only one cane per plant, but there might be more in the autumn that I could root. I am not sure what else I have in my garden that I can take cuttings from!

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Hi,

I have a packet of Rhubarb seeds (50) if you want. Think it's too late this year for planting (under a cold frame, maybe not?) First year after planting you get a small yield then thereafter much better.

Hi Frostyfreckle, I like your user name. What's it mean?

I got some early red rhubarb seeds from ebay not long ago because I was already paying postage on some other seed I ordered. Isn't it crazy how many seeds they put in some packets? I mean, I paid three times as much for some F1 organic tomato seeds earlier in the year (well maybe not I got them 1/2 off in a t &m sale) for 6 (!) seeds. Have you tried any rhubarb off the plant that comes from the seed? If it's particularly scrummy, I'd love some of the seed!! I can count on my hand how many times I've eaten rhubarb-all this year. It's a lovely vegetable.

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Hi Marigold,

You are very welcome to the Rhubarb seeds, I bought 1 packet online and got 3 delivered, only paid for 1 Did contact though about their mistake so got them free. I have tried the rhubarb it is sweet, if I plant any more I may need to move to get a bigger garden. PM your details. Ahh, my username - no real meaning, although I do have freckles at age 35+ I have been on a thread yesterday and some kind sole has loads of soft fruit cuttings which are going to be available Oct/Nov perhaps this might be a source of help?

PS You can never eat too much rhubabrb, have to admit sometimes it never makes it into the kitchen, it is devoured on the spot.

PPS The kind soul with soft fruit cuttings (due Oct/Nov) is Swaine.