furnace lane: fruit

About me

I'm a half Finnish designer who has since taken a break to bring up my children. I used to work in Graphic Design, but now I prefer working with textiles and illustration. This blog is about my allotment and garden. I have been gardening for many years and grew up watching my mum and dad do the same. I began my allotment in Jan 2010 in memory of my father who passed a way just before then. I also love cooking and finding inventive and delicious ways to make my produce into meals. I'm growing with my experiences, and welcome any helpful advice! Sometime soon I hope to use my garden as inspiration for my art.

Sunday, 6 February 2011

Dwarf apple

I'm thinking of extending my fruit patch to include a dwarf apple or pear tree. I've done some preliminary research and found that the variety Lord Lambourne looks particularly appealing (no pun intended!) as it's got the crisp sweetness of a Braeburn but a slightly earlier crop in September. I also found this pear, variety Lilliput which would look very sweet in a patio pot. I've always loved the idea of having an espalier, but that I would have to do at home as my allotment is far too exposed with no available walls to train a fan against. If I ever go as far as to buy an apple, this article is particularly helpful with advice on pruning every year.

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

Kiwi 'Issai' (Self Fertile)

I've always fancied growing a Kiwi, but the pollination issue puts me off. This variety looks very hardy and is supposed to survive in freezing temperatures, and it is self pollinating! Wonderful. Looks wierd too.

Kiwi 'Issai' (Self Fertile)