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- February
- The Fruit Garden
The Fruit Garden
In order to obtain maximum benefits from fertilisers and best results from crops it is advisable to check the soil pH and possibly the nutrient levels at this time of the year. This can achieved simply with a pH test kit or a nutrient & pH test kit. Depending on the results, add lime to the soil as required and improve heavy soils with calcified seaweed. Other nutrient deficiencies can also be resolved.
Prepare sites for spring planting by deep cultivations and the addition of manure.Plant new soft fruit in well-manured soil as soon as possible this month. Weed and tidy amongst strawberries, lightly cultivate and feed with Sulphate of Potash. Cover a few well-established strawberry plants with cloches for early fruiting.
Prune blackberries by removing very old-fruited canes and tie in new canes. Prune gooseberries and redcurrants by reducing new leader growths to 15cm (9″) and laterals to 5cm (2″). Cut down autumn fruiting raspberry canes leaving new emerging shoots. Check ties on summer fruiting raspberries. Remove old fruited wood from blackcurrants leaving only lighter coloured branches. Finish pruning outdoor grape vines as soon as possible, cutting away old fruited growths and tying down side shoots.
Where top fruit trees are growing in grass, clear away a substantial area of turf from the tree trunks. Weed and lightly cultivate the ground around all established fruit and apply a general slow release fertiliser such as Osmacote. Spray peaches, apricots and nectarines growing out of doors against peach leaf curl using a proprietary fungicide and a proprietary pesticide against red spider and aphids. Take steps to prevent bird damage to fruit by using fruit cages and netting. Use rabbit guards on fruit trees where necessary. Protect branches of fig trees with embryo fruits by covering with porous material, such as fleece or hessian.
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