| Name |
Culture |
Tips |
Image
|
| Raspberries |
Perennial shrub. Likes a protected
sunny site with well-drained slightly acid soil. Plants can do well
in partial shade as long as they are not allowed to dry out. Plant
between early winter and early spring. Space plants at 15" in
rows 6' apart. Train the canes onto a fence or any sturdy frame. |
Summer fruiting cultivars fruit on
previous year canes and autumn fruiting produce on the current year's
canes.
Summer fruiting 2-3 Kg of fruit per metre row for 12-15 years or more.
Autumn fruiting 0.6 Kg per metre row. |
|
| Gooseberries |
Plant in autumn or winter. Any well-drained
soil. They are tolerant of shade and grow well under fruit trees.
In June all laterals of the current season's growth should be shortened
to 5 leaves, removing mildew. |
Gooseberries are long-lasting bushes,
fruiting 4 kilos a year for 20-30 years and is the first hardy major
fruit to yield in the year. |
|
| Blackberries |
Blackberry plants are very hardy,
frost tolerant, and will fruit for 20-30 years or more under garden
cultivation.
Picking season lasts from early July through to late August with some
late varieties extending into September. |
Brambles grow abundantly in the wild
so most people will prefer to devote garden space to other things.
Pick with plugs intact. |
|
| Strawberries |
The best way is to buy certified
stock, alternatively strawberry plants can produce many runners. Choose
the first one only, cut the rest away, they will not be so good as
the first. Peg it down in a 3" pot and within two weeks you should
be able to cut it away from the parent.
Strawberries grow best in a well drained but moisture retentive soil
with good air flow
|
To enjoy strawberries for a decent
length season begin with glasshouse production in mid-April, this
is followed by tunnel protected fruit in May and extends to outdoor
main crop in June. |
|
Plums
Damsons
Gages |
Plums like hot summers, hard winters
and a late, short spring. They flower very early in the season and
that means cropping can be disappointing and irregular.
The ideal soil type is a deep, fairly heavy, clay loam |
Victoria remains one of the most
popular varieties because it is self fertile many other types need
a pollinator.
This is a cultivar in the same group. Get advice. |
|
| Apples |
Plant in the dormant season, ground
should neither too wet to frozen. Soak the roots in water for an hour
before planting, trim back any damaged roots. Dig a large enough hole;
two spades' depth and 18 inches or more diameter should mean that
you won't have to squash the roots in or down. |
On exposed sites lay the majority
of the roots out towards the prevailing wind. If needed, stakes should
be driven well in prior to backfilling.
One method is a tall single stake near the trunk itself, probably
on the prevailing wind side is best. |
|
| Pears |
Pears are grown in a very similar
way to apples, they live much longer, 100 years or much more; they
thrive in heavy soils and can do well in wet conditions. |
Pears flower earlier than apples
so they are more prone to frost; they also need more warmth and shelter
so do best with a South or West-facing aspect. |
|
Blackcurrants
Redcurrants
Whitecurrants |
Blackcurrants are gross feeders so
require deep, fertile and well-drained soil. They will tolerate shade
but prefer a sheltered sunny position. Plant bare rooted stock in
autumn or early winter. Allow 5ft between plants. Blackcurrants produce
fruit on wood made the previous year. |
Blackcurrants are primarily grown
in the UK for processing into cordials and drinks. Redcurrants are
the most popular and widely grown currants.
Whitecurrants are considered to be the sweetest.
For best results correct pruning is essential. |
|
| Rhubarb |
Can be sown in April, but best to
lift and divide an existing plant, even this method will need 15 months
before first crops.
Does best in an open site which is not shaded
|
Keep the plants well watered. Remove
any flowering shoots.
Place a mulch of well rotted manure over the crowns in January |
|
| Cherries |
Both types sweet or sour require
the same conditions soil wise, deep well drained loam but sweet prefer
open site in full sun whilst sour like light shade. Best bought from
certified rootstock. As the trees can grow very big it is a good idea
to buy dwarfing rootstock or to fan and prune against a wall. |
Cherries like plums need a cultivars
in the same group nearby. Get advice.
Always keep pruning to a minimum |
|
