Fruit at its best when picked at right time

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 11

Fruit at its best when picked at right time

This is the time of the year when the grower of vege- : table and fruit reaps the i rewards for his endeavour, i Over the next few weeks : there will be plenty of variety as fruits ripen and (vegetables mature. Judgment ( (plays an important role in (this aspect as there can be ' a considerable difference in i flavour, quality, succulence and size between something harvested just a little too : early or too late and that i which is taken at just the : right stage of development. ■ Fruit section Judicious picking of fruit iwill enable the crop to be harvested at the appropriate point of development—when it is nicest to eat. Stripping results in a mixed bag of half ripe to over mature fruit and does not allow smaller fruit a chance to attain (greater size or better quality. It is not easy to define the correct stage at which to [Pick a particular fruit. It is often dependent on the use to which it will be put. Peaches and apricots indicate approaching maturity when the colour changes from green to . yellow or blush and readily part from the twig when ripe. Plums tend to develop a deep bloom which is more pronounced on some, such as Blue Diamond, than on others and colouration becomes consistent over the whole skin. Apples usually lighten or deepen in colour and russetting becomes evident on those which have this tendency. Pears, however, require care- : ful observation as their flavour can deteriorate if left. just a little bit too long on the tree. They are considered superior both in flavour and < for bottling if picked before ripe and will ripen if held i for a week or two afterwards.

Lawn sowing preparations require some work but can be overdone for little extra benefit. It is impossible, for instance, to eliminate all the weeds beforehand, and there are very good weedkillers which will do the job with minimal effort later on. There is, however, no substitute for sound technique—the main objective should be to obtain a level and firm sowing area with ample moisture below ground level so that the lawn seed can germinate readily with the minimum of delay. Bulb-planting preparations should be well in hand now with a definite plan in mind so that they are not scattered everywhere without thought or purpose. It is not too early to be planting bulbous irises, freesias, grape hyacinth and crocuses during this month. Preparations can also be made to get Iceland poppies in for winter flowering. Sweet peas, too, can be sown for winter display. Successions! sowings of calendulas, either in boxes or direct, will give an additions! splash of colour during the late autumn, winter and spring. Budding can continue. Success can only be achieved by good contact between stock and scion and the ties should therefore be secure. To facilitate lifting the bark from the stock, these plants should be kept well watered in advance of budding. Now is a good time to secure and make cuttings of many plants. They can be taken with or without a heel attached to the semi-ripe wood. Lower leaves should be stripped off and a slice of bark can be removed from part of the lower end of the cutting which can be dipped in rooting hormone to pro-, mote more rapid rooting. 1