Page 29 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2024/25

Apple tree pruned
can, providing that the bed has been well prepared. It is a permanent crop so dig in plenty of organic matter such as manure. Garlic, shallots and broad beans can also be planted if the soil has been prepared. However, I think it is best to start them
off in the greenhouse. Broad beans are best sown individually in small pots. The traditional time for planting shallots is December but they can still be planted now in individual pots. Garlic can also be planted in individual pots. Both shallots and garlic can be ordered from seed companies if you haven’t got any. None of this need extra heat so just put them on the staging or a shelf.
Fruit trees and bushes can be planted any time in the dormant season, November to March and we are in the middle of that season now. If you want to plant some
you can get them from any garden centre but you get a wider choice of varieties by ordering from a specialist supplier. These will arrive bare rooted and if they arrive when the ground is not fit for planting just plant them temporarily till the weather improves. Fruit trees are grafted onto a
root stock which determines their eventual height. Information about the root stock should be on the label. If you are short of space, choose ones with a dwarfing root stock. In the case of apples, these are M9 or M 27. When planting, dig out a hole large enough to take the roots and fork over the base. You can see a swelling on the stem where the tree has been grafted. When planting is finished this should be at or
just above soil level so you need to bear this in mind when digging out the hole. If
it is a tree that you are planting, fix a stake in first. Before replacing the soil, you can mix in some manure if you have any. Keep treading it down round the tree but see that the tree remains at the correct level. Finally, secure the tree to the stake.
Most fruit trees and bushes can be pruned now except for stone fruits which are always done in summer. Apples can
be either spur bearing where the fruit is formed on short spurs, or tip bearing where it is at the end of the branches. With spur bearers remove branches crowding the centre or crossing branches and prune the laterals to three buds. With tip bearers cut back branches with no fruit buds. Pears
are pruned the same way as spur bearing apples.
Gooseberries and red and white currants are pruned the same way. Cut out crossing branches, cut new shoots by half and side shoots to two inches. With blackcurrants cut out half of the branches that have fruited. Autumn fruiting raspberries should be cut down to a few inches above ground level.
Roses can be pruned any time in the dormant season. Cut out any dead wood and prune the remaining branches by half to an outward pointing bud.
Seed potatoes will soon be appearing in garden centres. They can also be ordered from seed companies. When you get them, they need to be “chitted”. This means standing them in trays in a light position such as a greenhouse shelf to start them growing.
If you have a heated greenhouse with a propagator, you can sow onions and leeks in trays of seed or multipurpose compost. The seeds are large enough to spread out. Just cover them with a thin layer of compost
This month I also wash all my seed trays and pots ready for the coming season.
Garlic growing in pots
Simply Vegetables 29