Fruit and Vegetables

Start to force a crown on Rhubarb now by placing a layer of loose straw over the plant and then covering with an upturned bucket.

Move Blueberries growing in pots to a sheltered place in the garden and wrap the pot in hessian or straw to protect the roots from any prolonged frosty spells which may occur from now on.

Grapevines can be pruned now while they are fully dormant. Pruning now or in January will prevent “bleeding”.

Check over any stoned fruit and vegetables on a regular basis to check for rotting and remove urgently before the others become infected.

Brussels Sprout plants can be severely weakened by strong winds so if yours are in an exposed site staking each plant will improve the situation no end and prevent the plants from being uprooted.

Flowers

Make sure that plants growing in containers, especially if against a wall, do not dry out. This is often neglected at this time of year.

Keep gift plants such as Azaleas and bulbs cool to prolong the display. If you had a

Hippeastrum last winter and it has been rested, it can be given a first watering now to start it back into growth.

Pests and Diseases

To control Brown Spot on fruit trees, cut away all mummified fruits from the trees at this time to help prevent infection next year.

Spray small fruit trees now while they are dormant with Vitax Winter Tree Wash to lessen the number of over-wintering pests.