The top line of your address label states the name of the plant variety, which you have just received.
If you have ordered more plants, bulbs or sundry items than have been enclosed, please do not worry, as these will be sent under separate cover at the appropriate time.
Carefully remove from the box. Your plants have been grown by a specialist. When plants in leaf are contained within a dark box, even for a short period, some discolouring of the foliage may take place. This is nothing to be alarmed about, as the plants will quickly recover. Our specific cultural guides will advise you how to care for and grow on your plants to achieve their best potential.
We have done our best to ensure that your order arrives in the best possible condition. However, sometimes the postal carrier is not as gentle with our plants as we would like, and you may find that a small amount of compost has become dislodged from the plant roots. However, this is nothing to worry about - the plants will still grow on healthily. Please do follow our expert's specific cultural advice to get the best out of your purchase.
If you decide not to follow this cultural information, then the most important thing you must do is feed and water your plants regularly.
Specific Information for the Variety Ordered
Apple Duo Tree
Height: 1.2-1.5m (4-5 feet)
Plant 45cm (18 inches) apart
Suitable for patio containers or the open ground, the two varieties pollinate each other and the fruits ripen from October onwards.
Plant as soon as possible upon receipt. Prepare the ground well, incorporating lots of organic matter.
Water well before planting, then plant carefully firming the soil around the root ball ensure that the plant finishes up at the same level in the soil as it was when it was growing in the pot/ground. Grows well in any good garden soil in most sites in sun or light shade. Requires little or no pruning if grown as an ornamental tree. Dead or damaged shoots may be removed in the winter.
To boost fruit production, water well during hot, dry weather and apply fertilizer annually. Mulch around the plants regularly with fresh compost to help conserve moisture.
Blueberry (Vaccinum corymbosum)
Height: 90cm (26 inches)
Plant 60cm (24 inches) apart
Grow in containers or the border, in an acidic, peaty or sandy, well-drained soil in sun or dappled shade. Add ericaceous compost to your soil if required. Prune during late winter, removing any wayward or crossing growth on the plants. By planting in groups, you will ensure that the blooms of each plant are pollinated. However, with self-pollinating varieties such as 'Sunshine Blue', group planting is not necessary. 'Sunshine Blue' is prolific fruiting with a more compact habit than other types.
The early summer blooms are followed by edible, sweet 1.5cm (½ inch), blue-black berries.
Cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon)
Height: 15cm (26 inches)
Plant 90cm (36 inches) apart
Cranberries are spreading plants. During summer, plants are clothed with pink bell-shaped blooms, followed by edible, red, 2cm (1 inch) berries. Grow in a well-drained soil, mix in some horticultural sand when planting if your soil is not of this texture. Cranberries prefer an acid soil so mix in some ericaceous compost or leaf mould when planting if your soil is not acidic. Provide a sunny or partly shaded position.
Alternatively, grow in containers at least 30cm (12 inches) in diameter, using good ericaceous compost mixed with some silver sand.
Plants require minimal pruning, simply remove dead and damaged stems as necessary during early spring.
Goji Berry (Lycium)
Height: 2m (6 feet 6 inches)
Plant 2m (6 feet 6 inches) apart
The plants we supply are 2 years old. These plants should begin to fruit lightly this year. Once established well, heavy yields can be achieved from plants, giving up to 1kg per plant in each subsequent year. Goji berry plants are extremely drought tolerant once established, so are perfect for covering dry banks and can also be used as a hedge or windbreak in a coastal garden.
Plants are fully hardy down to -15C, so are perfect for the UK climate. Plant out into well-cultivated soil, planting to the original soil level that can be seen on the stem. Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun for the best berry production. They will tolerate sandy, loamy and clay soils. Water well after planting and keep well watered, especially in dry periods.
Although plants only require little pruning, heavy pruning will keep the bush looking nice and will boost berry production. You can cut back hedges hard in spring, and trim them during early summer.
Plants flower from late spring to summer, followed by the 2cm (¾in) berries. Plants should continue to flower and produce berries right up until the first frosts.
Grape Vines
Plant 1.2m (4 feet) apart
Easy to grow and fully hardy, Grape Vines give good performance when planted against a warm, sunny wall in the UK and even better crops under glass. Provide a sharp-draining soil with a pH level of between 6-7.5 in a sunny position with shelter from cold, drying winds. Avoid very rich soils as they can hinder fruit production, neither should you plant into wet soils.
Grapes are best grown over a trellis or pergola or trained against walls in a single cordon habit, whereby a main stem gives host to lateral shoots which bear fruit. We detail the cultural advice of a single cordon style, for more advanced growing methods please refer to alternative literature.
Cultivate the soil thoroughly before planting by incorporating lots of organic matter, which improves water retention by walls. Plant individual cordons at least 1.2m (4 feet) apart. Dig a planting hole large enough to accommodate the roots comfortably and plant firmly. Water in well and continue through the growing season, reduce as fruit ripens. Take particular care with watering Grapes that are grown against walls, where soil may be persistently dry. Mulch plants to help retain moisture.
Pruning is done in a number of stages, and is important in the developing years of your plants. During the summer of the first year, ensure the main leader is tied in adequately. Cut back the main laterals (sideshoots) to 5-6 leaves, and reduce any sub-laterals (shoots coming from the sideshoots) to 1 leaf. During the winter of year one, reduce the leader by two-thirds of the new growth and prune back laterals to a single, strong bud. Year two requires further pruning; cut back each lateral as it reaches 5-6 leaves, and prune back sub-laterals to 1 leaf. Pinch out any flower trusses that form during this year. Following this, in winter, cut back the leader by two-thirds of new growth and reduce laterals to one strong bud.
The following summer your vine should be becoming established. Allow only one flowering bunch per lateral, and prune the lateral back to 2 leaves beyond the flower. Reduce any non-fruiting laterals to 5-6 leaves and pinch out sub-laterals to 1 single leaf. Then, during winter, reduce the leader back to 2 buds as it reaches the top of the support and cut the vine loose and tie into a horizontal position on the framework. Cut back all laterals to the first strong bud and saw off any congested spurs as required. This summer and winter pruning is repeated in each subsequent year.
During the fruiting seasons, feed with a high potash fertiliser every 2-3 weeks once vigorous shoots develop. Stop feeding as soon as fruits start to ripen. Only allow one bunch per 30cm (12 inches) of vertical stem, remove any other bunches at an early stage. You should also thin the fruits to encourage large, even-sized Grapes. Remove small, centre fruits using Grape Scissors.
Kiwi 'Issai' (Siberian)
Height: 2.5m (8 feet)
Plant 4m (12 feet) apart
A hairless variety of Kiwi Fruit, with an edible, smooth skin. Hardy in the UK and suitable for patio pots or borders. Plants enjoy warm, moist conditions during the growing season. Plant in a sunny but sheltered area, into a well-drained soil, rich in organic matter. Mix in some general-purpose fertiliser when planting to ensure plants get the best start.
Mulch plants regularly and feed with general fertiliser. Plants will bear fruit within 2 years.
When dormant, trim back shoots that have fruited, cut back to 2-4 buds.
Lemon & Orange
Choose a large pot or container, 30cm (12 inches) in diameter. Pot up using a loam-based compost such as John Innes Number 3. Plant firmly, water well. Stand in a well-lit room, out of strong sunlight for a week to help the roots to develop. Then, move into the sunniest spot, but protect from strong sunlight. Your plants will be best in a conservatory or cool greenhouse but can be grown in a cool, well-lit room.
In summer, never let the soil dry out, and ventilate and mist spray freely. After all risk of frost has gone, plants benefit from being stood outside in a sunny sheltered spot with light shade from the sun. Feed every 14 days with weak citrus feed during summer and winter.
Water moderately, but allow the top of the compost to slightly dry between doses. Give plants an occasional mist spray as the flower buds develop.
Outdoor plants should be brought indoors in early autumn, before the first frosts. Through the winter, keep at a minimum of 10°C (50°F), water only to keep compost just moist and mist spray on warm days.
Each April remove the top 5cm (2 inches) of compost and replace with fresh compost. To prune, simply remove the tips of any straggling, unwanted shoots during March. Flowers are borne from April to June and fruits may take a year to develop.
Strawberries make good ground cover for the border, or are suitable in containers, window boxes or strawberry 'towers'. Your plants have been lifted, trimmed and cold store treated to provide the best results and a crop 6-8 weeks from planting, dependent on weather. Strawberries will grow in any well-drained soil in a sunny position.
Clear all weeds and incorporate plenty of well-rotted manure into the soil. On sandy soils, rake in a dressing of well-balanced fertiliser to improve the soil. Soak the roots in water for a few minutes beforehand and then plant with the base of the crown at soil level. Do not plant where strawberries or potatoes have been grown previously (for five years) to reduce the risk of infection by Verticillium Wilt. Use a trowel to make a planting hole big enough to spread the roots downward and so that the crown of the plant is at or just above soil level. Firm in thoroughly after planting. Deep planting may lead to rotting and disease.
On heavier soils strawberries may be planted on a 3 inch high ridge to aid drainage. You may also wish to surround the plants with matting to suppress weeds, or use straw or hay during the fruiting season to prevent fruit rot. Water well when newly planted. Continue to water regularly during the growing season, especially after flowering, as this helps to develop fruits. Keep beds free of weeds at all times.
Straw laid under the fruit trusses before they ripen prevents rain splashing soil up on the fruits. Use any recognisable brand of slow release fertiliser to provide long term nutrition. After harvest had finished, immediately cut off all leaves and runners and compost or burn them.
Black Polythene
Planting through black polythene 3 feet wide, buried at each side of the row to give a 2 foot bed will control weeds, hasten ripening and give some protection from soil splash on fruit. Plant through the polythene in a double row with the plants at 30cm x 30cm (12 x 12 inches). Best results will follow the use of irrigation, ideally a trickle system laid at the centre of the bed before covering with polythene. Adding straw before fruits ripen is recommended.
Growing Strawberries in T&M Flower Pouches
Fill the flower pouch while it is lying on a vertical surface. Begin filling the Flower Pouch with good quality potting compost, making sure you push the compost firmly down into the bottom corners. Keep adding 3-4 handfuls of compost at a time and firm down.
Lay the first of the bare rooted plants on the compost inside the pouch and poke the new growth through the holes, firming in gently. Repeat until the pouch is full. Fill the pouch with compost to the top and place two bare rooted plants in the top of the pouch.
Water gently (approx. 3 pints of water) or until your pouch is well watered. Squeezing the bottom of the pouch is a good test to see if your pouch is dry. After the initial watering, it is unlikely to require any more water until the bottom of the pouch is dry. You can then elevate the top end of your pouch to encourage even growth. After several days there will be sufficient root development to hold plants and compost in place. Then hang your Flower Pouch up in your desired position.
Growing in Strawberry Barrels
For success it is essential to use free-draining, multi-purpose compost. Use slow release fertiliser to provide long term nutrition.
Establishment
It is essential to make sure young plants are kept well watered. Spring planted strawberries should have the first season's blossoms removed. Early summer to autumn planted strawberries will be strong enough to carry a maiden crop.
