alliekiwi
Member
Where's the bug spray?!
Posts: 52
|
Post by alliekiwi on Jul 2, 2009 11:38:41 GMT
Some friends will be moving into their new house in about 5 weeks time. It's brand new, so has no garden.
As a housewarming gift, I was thinking about either some plants or maybe a couple of trees. They have four children aged 10 down to 2, so I wondered about fruit trees. Maybe a mandarin and a lemon?
However, it's winter here, so maybe that isn't a good idea? Unless they keep the trees in pots in the meantime? Or can citrus trees be transplanted in winter? Bearing in mind that 'winter' means lots of rain, no snow and temperatures of around 15 degrees celsius (about 59 degrees F, I think) during the day.
Or would it be better to get something for the inside of the house?
Allie
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,687
|
Post by ragdall on Jul 6, 2009 4:15:11 GMT
Allie, The trees sound like a wonderful gift for a family with no garden yet.
We can't even grow apple trees in my cold climate so I know nothing about citrus. Could you get the advice you need from the shop where you will be buying the trees?
|
|
alliekiwi
Member
Where's the bug spray?!
Posts: 52
|
Post by alliekiwi on Jul 8, 2009 8:57:33 GMT
Thanks, Rags. Great suggestion. So I rang the garden centre today and they said that now is the perfect time to be planting and they have a sale on citrus! So I think I'll get one each of mandarin, lemon and tangelo. Tangelos are great for juicing and the mandarins will be useful for school lunchboxes.
Allie
|
|
|
Post by Pip Freeman on Jul 8, 2009 10:14:52 GMT
It's a lovely idea to buy trees as a gift, I think you will always be remembered when the children can pick the fruit and drink the juices and enjoy their lunch boxes. When my son Tim and family emigrated to Australia they bought me a damson tree and we had a 'ceremonial ' planting, the first fruits and damson cheese (a sort of jam) was especially enjoyed. Sometimes winter bought trees are sold as 'bare root plants', not in pots and need careful planting. These are instructions on how to plant them over here--- www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/ga002_planting_bare_root_tree.htmI'm sure your friends will know how though.
|
|
alliekiwi
Member
Where's the bug spray?!
Posts: 52
|
Post by alliekiwi on Jul 8, 2009 10:49:11 GMT
Thanks for the link, Pip. I'll certainly check and see what state the trees are in and what special care they may need. I'd not thought of that (especially as I'm really not much of a gardener).
I've not had damson cheese since my grandmother was alive. We used to love that! Another thing she made was quince paste. The funny thing is that no-one I knew had heard of quince paste let alone eaten it (much more common was quince jelly), yet my husband's family all love it as it is a spanish thing as well - known to them as membrillo. I love it with cheese, but I also use some of the paste to make fruit tarts so it's handy to have in the cupboard.
Do you have a quince tree?
Allie
|
|