Page 27 - ALG Issue 2 2021

Don't forget your Member Offers
on the
NAS website
Your savings, benefits and discounts
www.nsalg.org.uk/join-us/current- member-discounts/
The NAS are pleased to be able to provide our members with an extensive range of discounts and offers. Special deals have been negotiated on your behalf so that YOU can save money on growing your own fruit and veg on your allotment or garden.
Be sure to print out and distribute to your fellow members or include on your Society website, and spread the word!
Check out the seasonal jobs’ pages for some fruit work to be getting on with over the summer. Here are a few additional tasks:
SOFT FRUIT
• Softfruits,likeloganberriesandblackberriesthatfruit on previous years’ canes, should have new growths tied in alongside the fruiting ones, ready to take their place as soon as this year’s have finished cropping.
• Gooseberriesandredandwhitecurrents,thataregrown as cordons or similar, can have this year’s side growths reduced by half to two thirds. Some similar pruning can be done on bush grown as well.
• Blueberriescanhaveamulchofericaceouscompostand a feed of sequestered iron.
• Rhubarbcanhaveafeedofliquidmanureifavailable. Make sure that any flower shoots that develop are moved – this may be a sign that crowns are ready for dividing and rejuvenating in winter. Keep removing stalks where the leaves have begun to yellow.
TOP FRUIT
• Plums,gagesandotherstonefruit,especiallyiffantrained,should have any growths that aren’t required for the framework pinched out after no more than 1 inch/25mm long, and any young material that is required for a framework reduced by no more than a third of the current year’s growth.
• Figsshouldhaveanyoverlylongbranchesreducedback,toencourage new wood for fruiting next year.
• Peaches,nectarinesandapricotsshouldbewatchedforearwig damage and traps set if needed. Secure new growths alongside this year’s fruiting wood to replace after the trees have cropped; they may also need some leaves removing around developing fruits to allow maximum light in.
Aaron Hickman the Garden Doctor
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 27
SPRING/ SUMMER OFFERS AVAILABLE
NOW