The third year Hok
3 In spring, cut back all leaders to suitable buds, leaving 18-21 in of new growth. the soil around trained trees must be kept clear by maintaining a 3 ft wide border along the length of the wall over the spread of the tree. The border may then be planted to grass if the tree is developing in a satisfactory manner. Dwarf and standard trees should also be grassed down after five years. For the grass mixture see page 57 . Keep the grass clear of the trunk of the tree, as not to do so will...
Vinifera grapes
The Four-Arm Kniffin system is the method generally chosen in warm climates, but a modification called the Spur system is used for varieties such as 'Csaba' and 'Cardinal'. The Spur system allows the fruit-bearing arms to be permanent, that is they are not renewed annually. Each arm has 6-8 vertical fruiting spurs and each spur has 2-3 buds that produce fruit shoots. In cold climates, where tender varieties need winter protection, the Modified Chautauqua system can be used. Guyot system This is...
A classification of plums
Plums grow in varieties of color, shape, and size and are known by different names in various parts of the world. Understandably, therefore, confusion often occurs among gardeners and botanists over names in the plum family. The plum is a deciduous tree ranging in height from 15-30 ft when mature. It bears small fruit and is popular with gardeners. For reasons of simplification, the plum can be classified into three broad categories or groups European, Japanese and native. But there are several...
Formative pruning
Formed espaliers may be obtained or the gardener may prefer to start off with a maiden 2 From June to September, train the shoot from the top bud vertically up a cane. Train the shoots from the two lower buds at an angle of 45 degrees to the main stem. Tie them to canes fixed on the wire support. 1 In late winter, plant an unfeathered maiden tree. Cut back the stem to within 15 in of ground level. Leave room for a short leg and select three good upper buds for training. tree. The formative...
Pruning the single cordon initial pruning
On planting a one-year-old rooted cutting, shorten the central leader by about one-half to an outward-facing bud. Cut back all other laterals to about 1 in at a bud, and remove any buds lower than 4 in to create a short clear stem. If planting an older pre-shaped cordon, shorten the leader by one-third and prune maiden laterals to one bud. In late June to early July cut back the current season's side-shoots to 4-5 leaves. Tie the leader to the cane as and when necessary throughout the growing...
Cultivation
Some gardeners prefer to grow strawberries as an annual crop, planting new runners each year. This method produces high quality fruits but a lower yield than that of larger two- or three-year-old plants. Soil and situation Most soils are suitable for strawberries, but they should be well drained. On waterlogged land, if a drainage system is not practicable, grow strawberries on ridges 2-3 in high. They prefer a slightly acid pH 6.0-6.5 light loam in a frost-free, sunny situation. They will,...
Lowering The Cordon
When the cordons reach the top wire they may be lowered to obtain a longer stem. Lowering also helps to check the vigor of an overvigorous cordon. Lower carefully five degrees at a time and not lower than 35 degrees, so that there is no risk of breaking the stem. Lowering the angle slows down the movement of sap and limits extension growth while encouraging fruit bud protection. Just before leaf-fall, if further growth has developed from pruned shoots, cut it back to mature wood. In high...
Black currants
1 In early spring, clear the ground of weeds. Dig in a 3 in layer of manure or compost. Rake in a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at 3 oz per square yard. 5 In March, apply a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at 3 oz per square yard. A month later, apply 1 oz sulfate of ammonia per square yard 2 Dig a hole wide and deep enough to take the roots spread out well. Plant the bush 2 in deeper than it was at the nursery. Fill in the hole and firm the soil. 6 In July, the bush fruits best on...
Pruning the fantrained tree after harvesting
Immediately after cropping, not later than the end of September, cut out the laterals which carried the fruits back to the replacement shoots. Tie in the young shoots and cut out any dead or broken branches. Once the peach has reached the required height and spread, remove any unwanted extension growth by cutting to a lateral further back along the branch. Cut out bare wood back to strong young replacements. Protect the wounds with a wound paint. number of diseases and insects but this need not...
Harvesting Dmt
When melons start to turn their characteristic mature color, they are ripening and will soon be ready for picking. In the home garden, however, actual harvest should not start until the fruits pull away from the stem easily. At this time they are in prime eating condition. Do not leave them on the vine any longer, because they begin to deteriorate within a couple of days. Ripe melons have a strong, fruity scent. Melons are attacked by a few insects, but these are not generally very troublesome...
Quinces
1 Between November and March, prepare the ground, clearing away perennial weeds over an area roughly 3 ft square. Choose the planting position carefully. The true quince Cydonia oblonga is a native of central to south-western Asia. It has been cultivated since ancient times. It is related to the pear, for which it is often used as a rootstock to induce a more dwarfing effect on the vigor of the pear tree. The true quince is often confused with its distant relatives the oriental quinces...
Protection from wasps and birds
Apples and pears especially the early varieties sometimes need protection against wasps and birds. The trees can be netted or collars placed around the fruit stalks against birds see page 17 but wasps are more difficult to combat. One remedy is to find and destroy the wasps' nests. They can also be trapped in jam jars partly filled with beer and sugar. However, these two methods guarantee only partial control, and the most positive if tedious protection against wasps is to enclose each fruit,...
Raspberries 1
If aphids are present, spray with dimethoate, formothion or malathion in spring. An oil spray in winter gets rid of the over-wintering eggs. To prevent raspberry beetle grubs feeding on the fruits in summer, spray at dusk with malathion or derris when the first pink berry is seen. The most serious diseases of raspberries are viruses, which cause the leaves to become mottled or blotched and the canes to be stunted. Seek expert advice before destroying canes because the symptoms are similar to...
Training and pruning 1
the training and pruning of grapes are matters of critical importance. The main purposes of training are to keep the large, fast-growing vines under control, to facilitate care and harvesting, and to expose all parts of the plants to the sun. The purposes of pruning are to maintain vigorous growth, to provide new canes for the next year, and to limit the number of fruit-producing buds so that the vines do not produce too much small fruit of inferior quality. Various training systems are used...
Maypoling
5 On small trees, to support branches with a heavy crop, drive a tall stake into the ground near the stem of the tree. Tie a rope from its top to each branch. under cool conditions 3 -70C 37 -45 F . Late pears should be left on the tree until they leave the spur easily the first sign of windfalls is an indication. The fruits are hard at this stage but will mellow in storage. Keep them under cold conditions and bring the pears into room temperature to finish ripening whenever required. See page...
Pruning a feathered maiden
1 In late winter, prepare the soil and drive in a stake. Plant a maiden tree to the same depth as it was at the nursery. Tie to the stake. Cut the main stem back to a bud or lateral at about 24 in for a dwarf, 30 in for a standard. Prune in late winter, but not when the air temperature is below freezing. The first winter The work of forming the head begins with the maiden tree. Unfeathered At planting, shorten the maiden tree to 24 in for a dwarf bush or to 30 in if a standard is to be formed....
Pollination groups
Different varieties of plums, apples, pears and cherries are divided into pollination groups according to when their flowers are open and ripe for pollination. Those varieties in the same pollination group will cross-pollinate because their flowers are open at the same time. Those in adjacent groups are also acceptable because in most years their seasons of flowering overlap. However, a plant that blossoms very early cannot be counted on to cross-pollinate another plant that blossoms very late.
Biennial bearing
Biennial bearing or the carrying of a heavy crop one year and little or none in the next, is a common problem with apples and pears. Certain varieties are prone to it, although almost any variety can fall into this habit. It is more likely to happen to trees which are starved or receiving insufficient moisture, which makes them unable to carry a heavy crop and at the same time develop fruit buds for the following year. Frost destroying the blossom one spring can sometimes be the start of...
The fruiting stage
Each summer The fruits are carried on spur systems on the horizontal arms. The spurs are formed by the summer pruning of laterals on the Modified Lorette System in exactly the same way as for cordons. Regard each arms as a horizontal cordon see pages 50-1 . Winter After a few years of fruiting, the spur systems may become complicated and should be simplified by removing clusters of weak buds and by cutting back some of the spurs to two or three fruit buds. 5 From July to September, train the...
Incompatibility groups
Not all varieties of the same fruit can cross- pollinate, even when they are in the same pollination group. This is called cross-incom-patibility. These varieties are divided into incompatibility groups and will not set fruit with their own pollen or that of any variety in the same incompatibility group. They will cross-pollinate with varieties in another group or in adjacent groups provided they flower at the same time .
Third and fourth years
placed lateral and leave it unpruned. placed lateral and leave it unpruned. occurred. Flower buds have formed on last year's wood. Cut back to the occurred. Flower buds have formed on last year's wood. Cut back to the 4 In October, at the end of the growing season, a strong new lateral has been produced from the 1 in stub. This is left unpruned to repeat the cycle.