Page 13 - ALG Issue 3 2019

...September, October, November
• Loganberriesshouldbepruned after fruiting has finished, cutting all stems that have fruited back to ground level and tying in the best new un-flowered growths.
FLOWERS:
• Keepcuttingdahliasuntilthefirst frosts and keep trapping earwigs.
A simple way is to pack a clay plant pot with straw, hay or dry grass and perch this upside down on the top of a short cane between the rows; the earwigs will go there in the day.
Thesecanthenbeemptiedout late in the afternoon and the pests destroyed.
• Plantbulbssuchassnowdrops, crocus, daffodils etc. to add colour to the plot in the spring, and also provide some nectar for early pollinating insects.
• Sowhardyannualsdirectinto prepared ground for flowering
next year: cornflowers, Californian poppies, love-in-a-mist, poached egg plants - the list of suitable candidates is endless. A very cheap and easy way to bring colour to the plot.
Plant bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, daffodils etc. to add colour to the plot in the spring
• Thisisthelastwindowforplanting new strawberry beds, either from new plants or from runners rooted in the summer.
FLOWERS:
• Liftdahliatuberscarefullyatthe first signs of frost. Cut away the top growths, label and put to dry in a frost-free potting shed or similar.
• Plantoutspringbedding;these will add a splash of colour as well as catering for important early pollinating insects.
• Sowearlysweetpeas.
• Liftgladiolicormsanddryoffinan
airy shed.
FRUIT WORK TIP
The pruning of early apples and pears can begin once all of the leaves have dropped
– removing all dead, diseased, damaged or crossing material, and reducing the current year’s growth to two or three buds that face away from the centre of the tree.
FRUIT:
• Continue to prune apples and pears.
• Takerhubarbcrownliftedlastmonth into a warm dark place for forcing.
• Prunevinesbothunderglassandout
of doors.
• Harvestandstorelategrapes.
Plant tulips and hyacinths in pots or the open ground
FLOWERS:
• Planttulipsandhyacinthsinpotsor the open ground.
• Sowsweetpeasandhardenoffany that were sown last month. The colder and harder the plants are grown the better, just keep heavy snow and winds from the young plants and don’t pinch out until after Christmas.
GROWER’S TIP
After a few good hard frosts but before the ground is heavily frozen, lift some parsnips and swede to store.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 13