1 week Ago By Alex Evans
The sun is shining, spring is near and gardeners are rapidly running out of time to plant some crops if they want them this year. According to Alan Buckingham, author of The Allotment Calendar, bare root fruit trees or bushes must be planted before the end of March because “by April it will be too late.” He warned gardeners that bare root fruiting plants apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and currant bushes must do so before March 31.
If you leave it any later than this, they simply won’t establish and won’t be able to produce any fruit. He said: “March is your last chance for planting new bare-root apple and pear trees, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and hybrid berries as well as gooseberry and currant bushes. “By April it will be too late, and only container-grown plants will get established and fruit.
” He added that if you fancy growing garlic, March also represents your last chance to plant it to harvest this year too. This is backed by The Woodland Trust, which explains how fruit trees need to be planted before April. It says: “Once you have chosen a fruit tree, it is important to consider the best time of year to plant.
"The right moment to plant in this time period will depend on the weather and soil conditions. Generally, this is between December and March. “Newly planted trees should have a guard to protect the trunk from rabbits, cats and dogs.
It's also important to water the tree during dry spells throughout the growing season (April to mid-September). “During the growing season note the colour of the leaves on the tree. If they are a dark green colour then the tree is doing well.
” As welll as providing fruit for you to pick, most fruit trees and bushes are great for wildlife too, providing places to nest, and food for caterpillars, birds, voles, thrushes and even foxes too, says the Trust..
