Training peaches and harvesting asparagus
So much for April showers this month. So far it has been a scorcher! Watering is in full swing at Wisley for our emerging veg seedlings, but hopefully we will get much needed rain soon.
We are starting to train our peach fans on our warm, south-west facing walls in the fruit garden. The trick with training these trees is to start training early in the season by selecting potential fruiting shoots and rubbing out ones that are no use. This enables the energy to be channelled into making replacement branches that will bear fruit for future years.
We're also harvesting asparagus spears from the vegetable gardens. It is important to cut frequently as this encourages more new tender shoots to spout from the base. Cut just below the soil level with a sharp knife. Don't go too deep or you will damage other spears about to emerge. Watch out for asparagus beetle and pick them off as you see them. Stop harvesting asparagus spears before mid-summer as this will enable plants to build up strenght for the following year. One of our favourite varieties is the tasty 'Gijnlim' which has an AGM. However, out of interest we are now trialing purple-coloured asparagus varieties on Portsmouth field at Wisley Come and check them out at your next visit to our garden to see which one you think is growing the best
We are also tucking straw under our strawberries grown under cloches over the next few weeks. Don't do it too early as the light of the pale straw reflects rather than absorbs heat during the day, making the strawberries susceptible to frost damage during the night. We use barley straw as the softness of the straw doesn't pierce and damage the fruit.
Anyway, I'm off to discuss plans for our Berrylicous event in July. Rumour has it, we might be offering wine tastings from our very own vineyard.