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WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN IN
FEBRUARY 8th to 14th
It's difficult to get plant feeding needs correct but Susan
explains it easily on the right.
Potassium high feeds are sold as Tomato Feed, nitrogen high feeds
are sold as General Purpose. |
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Fruit
Peaches, nectarines and apricots come into blossom earlier in the year
than most fruit. For this reason the delicate buds can be damaged by the
frost. To prevent this cover the most vulnerable parts of these trees
with some form of frost protection. Fleece is available from most garden
centres for this purpose. The fleece can be re-used for several years if
it is stored away properly.Prune Wisteria
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Wisteria are a bit of a law to themselves as far as pruning is
concerned. They need pruning twice a year to keep them in tip top
shape.
The first pruning should occur in August with a second pruning
in the winter, any time between December and February. In winter,
each of the shoots should be cut back to two healthy buds from the
main stem. Don't prune any shoots which you are training over a
support. If you forgot pruning in August, still do as described
above. |
Winter Flowering Shrubs
It's easy to know when to prune winter flowering shrubs, just do it as
soon as the flowers have died down. The same applies to early spring
flowering shrubs and climbers such as forsythia and clematis montana.
Strange Strawberry Rules
Strawberries grown in the ground outside can be encouraged to produce an
early crop of fruit by covering them with fleece or cloches. This will
provide extra warmth and protect them from the frost. Remember though to
lift the fleece sides up in the middle of some days when the weather is
warm to encourage pollination by insects.
If however you have been growing pot strawberries in your cool
greenhouse over winter, then the best advice is to take them outside
some time soon. Strawberries need some time exposed to the cold weather
if they are to flower successfully.
All strawberries will appreciate a liquid feed high in potassium (as
used for tomatoes). Potassium encourages the growth of those all so
important flowers on strawberries.
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