Oxhill News

www.oxhill.com / www.oxhill.org.uk

South Warwickshire, England.

The Oxhill News

August 2016

This months News

Contents

 

WOT2Grow - Community Orchard

Summer, summer wherefore art thou summer? Could be the cry heard all around the area as we at the orchard and local gardeners bemoan the lack of summer this year! Water in abundance has caused massive growth but we need the sun and warmth to ripen the crops.

Despite this the trees at the orchard have thrived and fruit is growing, the June drop was done twice and then the July thinning was done twice! The trees are still very young with thin branches so we need to make sure they don’t suffer from prolific fruiting. Controlling the rosy apple aphid this year with organic spraying has made a big difference to the apples and all the trees are still free from most pests and diseases.

The berries have come into their own after a few warm days and although not as sweet, due to lack of sun, they are cropping pretty well. It is lovely to pick fresh berries that have had no chemicals applied and no pesticides so they can be eaten straight from the canes. Nothing quite like them as our members will confirm.

The blackbirds did strip the red currants before we could net them even though they were unripe but we have plans to foil them next year!

The bees are surviving and we have had a swarm to add to one of the hives so hopefully honey is on its way.

So things are going well at the orchard so why not join us and benefit from the harvest - if you need more info contact one of us

If you need more info contact one of us

Liz Atkinson (680045), Paul Sayer (680451), Sue and Mike Sanderson (688080)

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Last modified: August 06, 2016