If you put mesh up to support your plants leave a gap at the bottom to make harvesting and weeding easier.
KITCHEN GARDEN
Just because it is cold and windy and there is loads to do around the house shouldn't put you off caring for the garden at this time of year. Let’s see what we can be getting on with in the kitchen garden
FORK IN
If you have any areas that are bare then fork in plenty of compost or rotted manure. If conditions are very wet, cover an area with polythene sheet to keep the rain off, and add your compost once the soil has dried out.
APPLE TREES
On trained forms of apple tree, such as espaliers and cordons, sideshoots shortened in summer can be reduced in length now to about three buds. Any new shoots that have grown to extend the framework can be tied in to their supports.
BEAN TRENCH
Prepare a bean trench on the site where you're planning to grow your runner beans next summer. Take out a deep trench and fill with the rotted contents of your compost bin. Continue adding kitchen waste during the winter. Cover with soil in late spring, then sow or plant out your beans on top.
EARLY RHUBARB
Place buckets or forcing jars over dormant clumps of rhubarb to encourage stems to form for a delicious early harvest.
NEW FRUIT
Continue planting new fruit trees and bushes. Bare-rooted plants, available by mail order from specialist fruit growers, offer the best value. Raspberries and cane fruits can also be planted now.
CURRANTS
Shorten side shoots on red and white currants to just one bud. Also remove any old stems crowding the centre of the bush.
DON'T FORGET THE SPUDS
Place your order for seed potatoes now, especially if you want to grow organic ones. These will be delivered later in the winter, when they can be set to form shoots before planting out.
Just because it is cold and windy and there is loads to do around the house shouldn't put you off caring for the garden at this time of year. Let’s see what we can be getting on with in the kitchen garden
FORK IN
If you have any areas that are bare then fork in plenty of compost or rotted manure. If conditions are very wet, cover an area with polythene sheet to keep the rain off, and add your compost once the soil has dried out.
APPLE TREES
On trained forms of apple tree, such as espaliers and cordons, sideshoots shortened in summer can be reduced in length now to about three buds. Any new shoots that have grown to extend the framework can be tied in to their supports.
BEAN TRENCH
Prepare a bean trench on the site where you're planning to grow your runner beans next summer. Take out a deep trench and fill with the rotted contents of your compost bin. Continue adding kitchen waste during the winter. Cover with soil in late spring, then sow or plant out your beans on top.
EARLY RHUBARB
Place buckets or forcing jars over dormant clumps of rhubarb to encourage stems to form for a delicious early harvest.
NEW FRUIT
Continue planting new fruit trees and bushes. Bare-rooted plants, available by mail order from specialist fruit growers, offer the best value. Raspberries and cane fruits can also be planted now.
CURRANTS
Shorten side shoots on red and white currants to just one bud. Also remove any old stems crowding the centre of the bush.
DON'T FORGET THE SPUDS
Place your order for seed potatoes now, especially if you want to grow organic ones. These will be delivered later in the winter, when they can be set to form shoots before planting out.
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