Gardening
e-book:
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Ministry of Agriculture Allotment &
Garden Guide
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Click image
for
facsimile of page 6
November 1945
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Work on the FRUIT PLOT |
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The value of the
fruit we can grow in our own gardens needs no emphasis at this critical
time. And we can grow more and better fruit if we give more attention to
pruning and spraying at the right times. With much less to do on the
vegetable plot, we can turn our hands to the fruit plot and get going. |
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In so many private
gardens pests and diseases play havoc with the fruit and we can do much to
control them by spraying. But first, here are a few hints about winter
pruning, though you would get a better idea of the art by watching some
knowledgeable person do the job a time or two. |
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WINTER PRUNING |
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Before beginning to prune apples and pears, look for two kinds of
shoots—"leaders" and "laterals," and two kinds of buds—"fruit buds" and
"wood buds."
"Leader" shoots are the main shoot growths that extend at the ends
of the branches; "Laterals" are the side shoots that grow out form the
"leaders." The "wood buds" that form leafy shoots are thin and pointed,
while the "fruit buds" that form blossom are plump and round (see
illustrations)
Cordon and dwarf bush trees are pruned by cutting back all laterals
to three of four buds (see illustrations) and cutting the leaders so as to
leave two-thirds of the current season's growth. |
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Make the cut just
above an outside bud. The right and wrong ways of making these cuts are
shown in the pictures. If you are planting new trees this winter, pruning is
best left until the buds begin tos well. Then cut all laterals back to four
or five buds and reduce leaders by half.
Don't prune stone fruits unless absolutely necessary, owing to the risk
of disease. In fact, plums and damsons need very little winter pruning. Dead
branches or shoots that cross or crowd should be thinned out. |
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Gooseberries and redcurrants can be pruned now. Winter pruning of gooseberry
bushes consists of thinning out overcrowding shoots, especially in the
middle of the bush, so letting in air and light and making fruit picking
easier next season. Cut back new growth at the end of the main branches to a
bud pointing outwards about halfway down. |
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But if the
birds are unusually troublesome in your district and peck at the buds, leave
pruning until spring.
With redcurrants, shorten all side shoots (laterals) in winter to
three or four buds, and cut back the growth at the ends of the main branches
to an outside bud, leaving about six inches of new growth each year. |
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