This will be my shortest blog yet, but worth noting anyway.
The mildness of the winter is already creating records. The infamous Siberian variety Klaudia has nailed it again. Most of the Siberian varieties start to show signs of life in late February and March. Klaudia always has insisted that our winter is as close to a Siberian spring as it thinks credible. Past years this has been January 11th to 15th. 2016 Klaudia wanted to wish us a happy new year and started on January 1st with 1cm leaf appearing on all the plants by today. I would not put this down to climate change, but I have my doubts as to whether this early awakening from dormancy will have a positive impact on berry production.
Mild climate is not the only change that these siberian varieties have to cope with. Our clay soil is a test for sea buckthorn resiliance and the reason for using compost to improve the soil structure to allow for ease of root penetration and nutrient absorption. Our coastal site is exposed. As winter rainfall softens the ground, the clay soil lacks the ability to support plants as they are buffeted by strong winds. Each year the stake supports for the plants have grown in size. This is an annual issue that needs solving.
One final comment – I have said in the past that I have been taking sea buckthorn capsules – two a day, since September 2009. Mathew has been drinking puree on the same basis over the past three years. In fact he took it as his only supplement for his training for the Iron Man challenge he raced in back in September.
This christmas there have been some shocking colds around and as a family four of us have had it. But by doubling up the capsules to four a day for two days, then dropping back to three for another three days – this aggressive infection gave in to the sea buckthorn.
So happy and healthy its into a new year.
May i wish you a very happy and successful 2016.
