Pruning and sowing
This is the time of year that all gardeners get excited as we sense the start of a new growing season ahead of us - that's hard to believe as we come in from the orchard cold and soaking wet from yet another downpour!
Now the apple and pear pruning is over we have turned our attention to the cobnuts and filberts. Both are types of hazelnuts, the difference between the two being the nut is exposed on the cobnut and covered by the husk on a filbert. They’re best pruned when in flower as this helps spread the pollen from one catkin to another.
In the vegetable garden we are sowing early carrots at the moment. We have covered them with fleece to prevent carrot fly and to keep them warm to speed up germination.
The team have just finished tying down the vines on the vineyard in the hope of another vintage year. The canes are tied horizontally to wires to encourage fruit production. We grow two white varieties called 'Phoenix' and 'Orion' here on our south facing slopes. They were chosen for their disease resistance and their aromatic flavours. The wine tastes fantastic with crisp, fresh and zingy flavours and is a great example of what can be achieved these days from an English vineyard. Ask for it in the Wisley shop!
We're also gearing up for the Grow Your Own event here at Wisley gardens on 24 - 25 March. In preparation we have been busy sowing seeds in containers in the last few weeks to demonstrate how vegetables can be grown in a small space. All our experts will be on hand in the model vegetable and fruit gardens for topical tips and advice. Look forward to seeing you there.