December and January are cold and damp times, and we need to look out for fungal diseases on greenhouse plants. Old leaves need to be removed and plants kept dry. Geraniums often keep flowering but the petals are a magnet for fungal disease.
Any stored apples need a check in case any have gone off. I usually have a few Coxes and Spartan left after Christmas but they are not as nice as fresh apples.
Talking of apples, any pruning can be done as long as there is no frost forecast for the night. Old trees that are tangled should have whole branches removed, not just a bit of snipping. Keep the centre open, let the light and wind in, and never remove more than a third of the tree.
New trees can be planted up to the end of February. I am going to plant some cherries this year. Now that there are dwarfing rootstocks, it’s possible to have them in a garden environment.
When it rains I look through seed catalogues and decide if I want to grow anything new. I have tried mizuna and mooli this year. The mizuna is an oriental vegetable which is becoming increasingly popular, and its also known as Kyona or potherb mustard. I planted it in a big container outside and it lasted all winter – a good substitute for lettuce, and it’s also quite decorative, with glossy serrated dark green leaves and narrow white stalks. The mooli (also known as Daikon), planted in August grows huge carrot-like roots. It’s a long white crunchy vegetable, very radish-like and a good filler in stews and casseroles although it can also be eaten raw. I will be trying some more oriental seeds.
Don’t forget if it snows heavily, get a broom and shake any conifers that are in danger of getting their branches out of shape.
From a maintenance point of view, one other thing to do is start the mower and let is run for ten minutes so that it dries it out!
Don’t forget our feathered friends either as they will find it increasingly difficult to find food. Put out some nuts and seeds and break the ice on bird baths so they have fresh water.
We’ve got a full-on programme again for the coming year with outings and some interesting topics at our monthly Wednesday night meetings in the Villages Hall. We have decided to postpone our Open Gardens event until the summer of 2017 so this will give you plenty of time to start thinking about whether you would like to join in – last time we raised considerable funds for the Air Ambulance and Acorns Hospice on a beautiful sunny day.
You can pick up a hard copy of the annual programme and the Spring Show schedue from one of the committee members or download them from our website at www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
Any stored apples need a check in case any have gone off. I usually have a few Coxes and Spartan left after Christmas but they are not as nice as fresh apples.
Talking of apples, any pruning can be done as long as there is no frost forecast for the night. Old trees that are tangled should have whole branches removed, not just a bit of snipping. Keep the centre open, let the light and wind in, and never remove more than a third of the tree.
New trees can be planted up to the end of February. I am going to plant some cherries this year. Now that there are dwarfing rootstocks, it’s possible to have them in a garden environment.
When it rains I look through seed catalogues and decide if I want to grow anything new. I have tried mizuna and mooli this year. The mizuna is an oriental vegetable which is becoming increasingly popular, and its also known as Kyona or potherb mustard. I planted it in a big container outside and it lasted all winter – a good substitute for lettuce, and it’s also quite decorative, with glossy serrated dark green leaves and narrow white stalks. The mooli (also known as Daikon), planted in August grows huge carrot-like roots. It’s a long white crunchy vegetable, very radish-like and a good filler in stews and casseroles although it can also be eaten raw. I will be trying some more oriental seeds.
Don’t forget if it snows heavily, get a broom and shake any conifers that are in danger of getting their branches out of shape.
From a maintenance point of view, one other thing to do is start the mower and let is run for ten minutes so that it dries it out!
Don’t forget our feathered friends either as they will find it increasingly difficult to find food. Put out some nuts and seeds and break the ice on bird baths so they have fresh water.
We’ve got a full-on programme again for the coming year with outings and some interesting topics at our monthly Wednesday night meetings in the Villages Hall. We have decided to postpone our Open Gardens event until the summer of 2017 so this will give you plenty of time to start thinking about whether you would like to join in – last time we raised considerable funds for the Air Ambulance and Acorns Hospice on a beautiful sunny day.
You can pick up a hard copy of the annual programme and the Spring Show schedue from one of the committee members or download them from our website at www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk