Things to do in June and July

Fruit Trees

This is the time of year when fruit trees are at their most active and need most attention, when there’s a June drop of young fruit and the remainder is setting and maturing.

However, you should beware of over cropping and thin fruit if there are too many. Now is the time to pinch back growth if you are training fruit trees to a shape - and for those who are newer to this take a look at our website for a page of beautifully clear diagrams showing you different forms of training and which fruits they’re best for.

Some things to watch out for:

Fig trees: showing signs of rust – brown, irregular spots or patches on leaves. Clear them up with a spray of Bordeau mixture or copper fungicide.

Vines: tie them in at regular intervals to wires.

General: Keep an eye on all fruit and tie in to wires when necessary.

Keep on seaweeding. Seaweed is a growth stimulant and plant tonic, a brown algae which has been utilised in crop production for centuries. In the late 1980s equipment for delicate analysis was developed and now there are highly accurate means of quantifying the naturally-occurring growth stimulants in seaweed. It can reduce the symptoms of stress from excessive heat, frost damage and transplanting.

And finally: Harvest first peaches and apricots when ready.

Conservatory Plants

As the early summer flowers of border plants like aquilegia start to fade, it’s a good time to inject some fresh colour by planting out those plants that like a spot of fresh air in the summer, though need the conservatory’s protection from rain and frost in the colder months. Our two plants of the month (below) are the perfect examples.

Plant of the month:
Abutilons and Alyogyne

Our two plants of the month both prefer to be in a conservatory in winter, although we have a nearly hardy Alyogyne, in a tub here at Reads, that has been frozen to -6°C. several times. But both can be planted out in the UK at this time of year to provide wonderful bursts of colour to a border.

Abutilons need lots of water and nutrients. Once they start to look the slightest bit yellow, start regular feeding, or add a slow-release fertiliser to the top 6cm (2.5in) of compost.

Whitefly are often a problem for abutilons grown indoors - another good reason to move plants into the open for the summer, where they will stay much healthier. Outside, they do best on a warm wall and can be tied to the wall or left to do their own thing.

Alyogyne (Hibiscus family) are much-branched shrubs. The flowers are large and violet coloured, often with a darker spot at the base of the petals. Outdoors in mild areas they like a sheltered sunny aspect and a well-drained soil.

About Reads

We’re a small family business in our seventh generation specialising in unusual fruits and conservatory plants. We have three National Collections (Citrus, Figs and Indoor Grapes). Everything is grown in peat-free compost using biological controls and environmentally sound as possible. Buy your plants from us and get free advice on how best to care for them for the life of the tree!

e-mail: plants@readsnursery.co.uk