THE GARDEN

Southland Times, Issue 24754, 27 May 1942, Page 6

THE GARDEN

By

RIWHI

SMALL FRUITS In Southland all of the small fruits flourish and as it is rather more difficult than elsewhere to grow pomme and stone fruits to perfection every garden should have an area devoted to the growing of black and red cinrante, gooseberries, raspberries, loganberries and strawberries. Now is the time for planting all except the last which should have been put in some months ago. Nevertheless if young strawberry plants are there to be planted they will grow, but should not be allowed to fruit next summer it planted as late as this. Sites best suited to the needs of small fruits are sunny and sheltered, but in inland areas black currants, raspberries and loganberries may appreciate some shade unless the soil is deep and moist. Any good well-drained loam will grow all of the varieties mentioned. Red currants and gooseberries can be grown successfully on light soils provided they are not too dry; black currants have a preference for deep heavy loams. PRUNING SMALL FRUITS

Established bushes should be pruned now. It is most important that the bushes should be pruned every winter without fail. Red currants and gooseberries should be grown on one stem like miniature apple trees. They bear fruit on spurs and older growth besides, in the case of gooseberries, some on mature young growth. All young growth should therefore be shortened back to about one-third of its length, the centre of the bush should be kept clear, and the remainder so thinned out as to admit of air, sunshine and full development for all the component branches and stems. If the correct procedure is followed season after season the bush should retain its vitality and fruitfulness for a period of 12 years or more, and should, as already stated, take on the characteristic architecture of a properly cared for apple tree. Black currants must be treated quite differently because they have different habits of fruiting. The majority of the plump fruiting buds will be found on mature wood of the current season. As much as possible of this young growth should therefore be retained. Even the tips need not be cut back if they are mature. Pruning consists in cutting out all old growth that can be spared, making the cuts as near to the base of the bush as possible. This will encourage the growth of strong suckers which will 'bear excellent fruit in the following season. When striking cuttings of black currants leave all buds on, but with red currants and gooseberries remove all buds except three or four at the top. Cuttings should be a foot long and deeply and firmly planted in sandy soil. The pruning of raspberries and loganberries is simple because all fruit is borne on young growths. Pruning therefore consists in the removal of all old or dead canes. Strawberries should be renewed in rotation so that no plants are kept longer than three fruiting seasons.