Fruity Book the Pomona

The Oak Spring Garden Library: Pomona v.2: Pomona Vol 2 from Sandra Raphael describes selections of rare books and other material in the Oak Spring Garden Library, a collection formed by Mrs Paul Mellon.

This “Pomona” describes 100 books and manuscripts about fruit, with illustrations taken from some of the most beautiful books on the subject as well as from original drawings and paintings.

• The earliest book described is Bussato’s “Guardian di Agricoltura” of 1592, the latest “The Hereforshire Pomona” an encyclopedia of apples and pears from the 1870s.
• In between there are fruit books large and small – La Quintinie’s “Instruction pour les Jardins fruitiers”, Duhamel’s “Traite des Arbres fruitiers”, and many others.
• The book is divided into sections on fruit growing in France and Britain, fruit elsewhere in Europe, and fruit in America, as well as citrus fruit, apples and pears, peaches and soft fruit, grapes, melons, and tropical fruit. Each description gives the background of the book and its relationship to others and is accompanied by illustrations of its contents in color and black and white.
• The “Pomona” includes not only brief bibliographical summaries of each book but also background essays that place the books in an historical setting.

Who Was Pomona

• Pomona was a  Roman goddess, unusual in that she was never identified with any Greek counterpart. She was particularly associated with the blossoming of trees rather than with the harvest.
• Pomona protected and inspired the abundance of the fruitful gardens and orchards.
• In 19th-century statues and building decorations, Pomona is usually shown carrying either a large platter of fruit or a cornucopia.
• The Latin word, pomum, means “fruit” and probably gives its name to apples  or Pommes
• Pomona Fruits is a UK business selling all things fruity, a veritable garden fruit specialists.

The Oak Spring Garden Library: Pomona is our  Gardening Book of the Month February 2011

Preformed Pond Shapes

Ponds come in many shapes and sizes, I particularly like the kidney shaped version of this preformed rubberised plastic.
Cheaper versions are now on the market made from blown plastic that is not as rigid but is suitable for smaller preformed shapes.
Of course if you want a bespoke shape you can use Butyl liners, fiberglass, concrete or even clay.

Tips For Installing Ponds

• Avoid sharp edges and stones by lining the base of the hole with sand.
• Beware the weight of water will push a preformed pond deeper so make sure the base is firm and well packed.
• Ensure the pond is level as the water will highlight any errors, slopping over one side and leaving a gap at the other.
• Make a beach area at the edge of the pond so wild life can access the water without needing to jump off the rim or edge.

Tips from Wildwoods

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Oak Garden Furniture

Oak is a perfect wood for use with substantial garden furniture. These terrace houses in Oxford have had doors that have stood the test of time.

Benefits of Oak

• Oak is long lasting and matures well into the garden surroundings.
• It matures into a pale grey colour
• Oak doesn’t need oiling or special treatment to be weather proof
• It is a natural resource that has been used in construction for centuries.
• Reclaimed Oak timber can be found at architectural salvage merchants.

Uses of Oak in The Garden

• Benches and seats made of Oak are sturdy and popular.
• Solid square or rectangular blocks can be used for seating or as sculptures. I like those that have been carved with a poetic saying.
• Planters look good made from oak slats. I would not waste expensive Oak on building a raised bed but if it enhances the visual amenity then give it a go.
• See products at Oak Cubed

Leaf Collectors

In February it is the last chance to clear up any leaves that are gathered in corners or under hedgerows. Wet and soggy leaves will decay and it is natural to allow them to return to the soil unless they are in the wrong spot such as on a lawn.

Leaf Mold or Rotting Leaves

• Rotting leaves have negligible food value but attract worms.
• When collected, leaves are best left to rot down for longer than normal compost at least 2 years. For that reason they should be kept separate in a wire leaf bin or a black plastic bag with air holes.
• Rotting leaves do not get hot like compost.
• When well rotted the leaf mold can be crumbled and used as a seed/potting compost.

Collecting Leaves

• A spring tined rake is used for small areas, possibly with  plastic hands to pick the pile up for bagging.
• A lawn mower can pick up many leaves off a lawn and shred them. Shredders are an optional extra on some lawn mowers.
• The picture is of a gang mower device for collecting leaves off a large grassed area. The leaves look like they are collecting themselves.
• Leaf blowers and vacuums are a more expensive but efficient way of collecting your leaves.

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Sprayers for Garden Spraying

Many older fashioned insecticides and fungicides are now banned by EU regulation but a sprayer is still a gardeners friend.
An old flit gun like the one above will not improver the efficacy of your spraying but it will be a pleasure to use on pesky insects and bacteria.
I happily use a spray gun for foliar feeding my plants.

Features of a Good Sprayer

• A good sprayer need to have a fine and adjustable nozzel to regulate the amount of fluid distributed. A good arrangement will range from a pencil jet to a wide spray.
• A lance to direct the spray to the underside of leaves is a boon.
• Modern sprayers have a safety valve so you can’t over pressurise the container.
• The sprayer needs to be easy to clean as you do not want a build up of chemicals from one spray to the next.
• Graduated filling marks help to achive accurate mixing.
• A lockable trigger maintains the spray for prolonged use.
• As liquids can be heavy I would opt for a carrying harness if I was buying a larger capacity sprayer.
• Hand held sprayers are fine for indoors and small areas.

this Hozelock Killaspray has a 3 litre Net Capacity leaving 2 litres for building the pressure. It costs about £22 from amazon

Bird Boxes and Nesting

Now is a good time to add to the bird boxes in your garden.

• An open box has most of the front missing to attract Robins, Pied Wagtails, and Redstarts. Place 5′ or higher and close to a hedge.

• With a box containing a small circular hole cut in the front it is the size of the hole that determines which bird is most likely to take up residence.

25 -28 mm for Blue Tits and Great Tits
32 mm for House Sparrows
45 mm for Starlings

• I have a ‘Roosting pocket’ are made from natural materials (coconut fibre), to provide a place for birds, particularly wrens, to shelter.

• The nesting boxes and  pockets are best placed in a quiet, sheltered spot – away from direct sunlight and prevailing winds and rain.

• Owl boxes need to be over 15 feet high like the photograph.

• Hung on a north facing wall or in a shady tree the box will remain cool as the weather warms in the spring.

• It seems obvious to put boxes out of reach of any predators, particularly cats.

• Position boxes away from bird feeders as the nesting pair will be constantly chasing the feeding birds away from their territory!

• If building your own box use untreated wood.

Water Hose to Water in Safety

Water Hose Safety Tips

• Do not mix water and electricity. This is not my hose which is too near the power cables for my liking.
• Do not hang your hose as a kink or kinks will develop even if the hose is of the reinforced type. Use a reel to wind your hose onto.
• Do not leave hoses outside and exposed to the elements. Lag outdoor taps to prevent freeze ups.
• Do not drink from hose pipes where water will have stood since last used. Ensure you have a return valve on outdoor taps to stop stagnant water and bacteria being siphoned back into your water supply.
• To avoid tripping on loose hoses fit a wall mounter re-reeler.

Hose Reel Set available from Amazon.
The Draper 30M Wind up Garden Hose Reel set has a tubular steel frame with tough plastic drum with wind-up handle. Flow through design with 1/2in hose connector. Supplied complete with 30M of 12mm hose and five pattern spray gun.

This wall mounted hose and reel by Hozelock is £23 from amazon There is 15m of hose plus fittings.

Fish for Ponds

I am again thinking of adding another pond to my garden. It will be a feature in a new Japanese themed garden area so will need some coloured Koi. The two most commonly kept fish types in garden ponds are Goldfish and Koi but I have previously kept Orfe.

Koi

• Koi   like to eat plants and can be kept  with only a few  types of plants.
• Koi grow larger than Goldfish and should not be kept in ponds smaller than 700 gallons. Their pond should be at least three feet deep.
• Koi live in communities so you should have at least 3 fish
• Never use chlorinated water with Koi.
• Koi  are very hardy fish and can withstand very low temperatures as long as the water is not frozen solid.
• Koi are peaceful fish and can live with goldfish.

Goldfish

• Goldfish can stay in your pond during the winter but need at least 12-16 inches of water below the freeze zone to survive.
• Goldfish can be kept with most aquatic plant species.
• They are the best fish for a small pond and can be kept indoors through winter if desired.
• Goldfish types such as Shubunkins are low maintenance, colorful and rewarding as long as they get enough oxygen.

Orfe

• Orfe are good fish as they swim visibly near the top of a pond
• Orfe are sociable fish and should always be kept in groups of at least three.
• Orfe are fast swimmers and need a lot of oxygen.
• Orfe will jump out of very small ponds unless they get lots of room.

You may be commenting that I need to control the algea in the picture. I could have used a bale of barley straw or a chemical control from amazon

Read Preformed Garden Ponds

link to Garden Fish Pond site

Get Tidy Tools Nailed

For want of a nail the shoe was lost………

The nails on this picture were strategically placed to hang the spade handle. This keeps tools tidy and off the ground.
The mortice and tenon joint between the shaft and the handle has been further secured with another nail although I find screws are often more effective in garden situations.
The plastic tie is just to keep the spade on the nails.

I sieved through my pictures for more hanging nails, other than on my hands and the result is below

Best New Allotment Books

Read and weed but not at the same time!
Inspiration from a good book may save a lot of perspiration!

Top Five
Do it right from the Royal Horticultural society
Do it every month
Do not forget to eat or cook
Record what you have grown for the last 3 years
See One Man’s tips for green-fingered urbanites.

The RHS Allotment Handbook: The Expert Guide for Every Fruit and Veg Grower from RHS

Allotment Month by Month from Alan Buckingham

The Allotment Book: Seasonal Planner and Cookbook from Andi Clevely

The Three-Year Allotment Notebook from Joanna Cruddas

One Man and His Dig: Adventures of an Allotment Novice from Valentine Low