The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Jobs to fill these in between days
The winter tasks list might be all ticked off but there’s still plenty to keep you occupied before the spring onslaught starts
As winter dwindles to its conclusion, a few decent days have brought a chance to crack on with some gardening tasks so many of us will be up to date with seasonal activities and the spring rush is still a few weeks away.
There’s always something to be done though and, with the strawberries still dormant, now is a good time to replace any fruiting rows that have cropped for the last two or three years. It used to be the practice to allow three fruit crops before replacing strawberries but now there are so many new varieties to try that we tend to just go for two crops then see if we can get an improvement with something new.
Many new varieties stop producing runners after a couple of years so you also run the risk of being left with no replacement fresh runners if you delay it too long. If you are using your own plants make sure you use one year old, strong runners. Plant these about 10-12in apart in rows 3ft apart on well prepared, weed free, fertile soil. If you are buying in new strawberry plants they will most likely be cold stored runners delivered in March, which is perfect timing for getting them off to a flying start.
CONTINUE WITH PLANTING BARE ROOT PLANTS
If you have ordered any bare root trees, shrubs, roses or fruit bushes or have any of your own grown from cuttings now is the time to plant them while the dormant season continues. As most of these will be permanent, or at least in place for quite a few years, make sure the ground is well prepared, composted and weed free before planting. It may be very hard work but I always double dig soil, going 2ft deep and adding plenty of compost to planting positions for permanent planting of roses, raspberries and other fruit bushes and all trees.
HARVESTING
Harvest any cabbage, leeks, kale, swedes, parsnips, rocket and sprouts as required for roots and fresh green produce in winter. There should still be some carrots and beetroot in store if you had a good crop last autumn. Keep a check on other stored fruit and vegetables and remove any that are going off.
Apples can get brown rot, which will spread if left to, and pumpkins need to be checked in case they begin to go soft in the middle. Potatoes can also turn soft if the eyes begin to sprout so
It used to be the practice to allow three crops before replacing strawberries but now there are so many new varieties to try
remove any shoots as they appear. Some varieties are more prone than others so these should be used first.
INDOORS TASKS
Harvest spring onions, rocket and lettuce from greenhouse borders, grown under grape vines or where tomatoes have been removed. Any short term salad crops sown in growbags in the autumn will be maturing by late winter and should be used and cleared before the space is needed for the next crop of grapes and tomatoes. Greenhouse space in early spring is always at a premium with young plants and seedlings, so salads need to be used by March.As soon as you get your seed potatoes, start to chit them in trays in a cool, light place so they can sprout short, sturdy shoots. This should give them a good start after planting out – rose end up – in March and early April.
Take the tops off geranium shoots that are now beginning to grow from cuttings taken last autumn. This will help them to remain sturdy and encourage branching. Waste not, want not though; the tops can be used as cuttings to increase stock and provide smaller plants in spring – just perfect for hanging baskets and tubs.