Jan - Feb - March - April - May - June - July - Aug - Sept - Oct - Nov - Dec

GARDENING  TIPS  FOR  DECEMBER  2011  
 

 

A  QUIET  MONTH ON THE GARDENING FRONT

 
OLD  SAYING  ! 
 

IF CHRISTMAS DAY BE BRIGHT AND CLEAR

THERE’LL  BE TWO WINTERS IN THE YEAR.   

__________________________    

 MICK’S  TIPS    

 
SEED  CATALOGUES      LOOK THROUGH YOUR SEED CATALOGUES AND DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO GROW. WHY NOT TRY A NEW VARIETY, WHEN YOU HAVE DECIDED WHAT YOU WILL BE GROWING GET YOUR ORDER SENT OFF READY FOR THE NEXT GROWING SEASON.

 
DIGGING   CONTINUE WITH YOUR WINTER DIGGING WHEN THE WEATHER PERMITS.

 
DEBRIS  REMOVAL    REMOVE ALL DEBRIS FROM YOUR VEGETABLE PLOT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND PESTS.

 
STORED  VEGETABLES   CHECK ANY STORED VEGETABLES FOR  ROT OR MICE AND SLUG DAMAGE. MAKE SURE THESE DO NOT GET DAMAGED BY ANY FROSTS THAT WE GET THIS WINTER , COVER UP AGAINST FROSTS.

 YOUNG  TREES    CHECK YOUNG TREES ARE WELL SUPPORTED WITH TIES AND STAKES TO GUARD AGAINST ANY DAMAGE FROM STRONG WINTER WINDS WE MAY GET.

 
GREENHOUSE   VENTILATE YOUR GREENHOUSE ON WARMER DAYS TO PREVENT MOULDS GETTING ESTABLISHED.

 
BRASSICAS   REMOVE ANY YELLOW LEAVES TO DISCOURAGE DISEASES SUCH AS BOTRYTIS. ALSO  NET ANY BRASSICAS TO KEEP THE PIGEONS OFF AND STOP DAMAGE FROM THEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

 
HARVESTING   CONTINUE TO HARVEST YOUR  LEEKS, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, WINTER CABBAGE, SWEDES, PARSNIPS, CELERIAC, CARROTS,  ECT.

 
RHUBARB   NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT NEW  RHUBARB CROWNS OR DIVIDE ANY LARGE CROWNS YOU MAY HAVE.

 
FRUIT   NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE HARDWOOD CUTTINGS OF SOFT FRUIT SUCH AS GOOSEBERRIES, RED & WHITE & BLACK CURRANTS. THE CUTTINGS CAN BE INSERTED IN THE OPEN GROUND NOW.

 
HOLLY   TO GUARANTEE BERRIES ON YOUR HOLLY SPRIGS AND WREATHS CUT THEM 2 TO 3 WEEKS BEFORE USING THEM. HANG THEM UP IN A SHED WHERE MICE AND BIRDS CAN’T GET AT THEM TO STRIP OFF THE BERRIES.

 
DEAD  HEADING    KEEP DEAD HEADING YOUR WINTER PANSIES, VIOLA’S  ETC,  IN YOUR BORDERS, CONTAINERS, BASKETS  ETC. THIS WILL ENCOURAGE MORE GROWTH.

 TEN  EASY TO GROW FLOWERS 

 CAMPANULA
 FORGET- ME – NOT
 GERANIUM
 LAVENDER
 MARIGOLD
 NASTURTIUM
 PANSY
 PRIMROSE
 SWEET PEA
10. WILD STRAWBERRY

 

LOOK  OUT FOR MORE OF MICK’S TIPS IN JANUARY   
 

HAVE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

 

Jan - Feb - March - April - May - June - July - Aug - Sept - Oct - Nov - Dec