Gooseberries are some of the hassle-free fruiting shrubs to have in your garden. You can grow them in gardens, big or small, in allotment patches as well as in containers which is one of my favourite ways to grow them. The issue for many people, however, is in regards to pruning these plants and that’s largely because of their thorny nature but also because they need to be pruned every year and correctly to get the most fruit. If you…
Gooseberry farming was made popular in 19th century Britain, but the plant is still indigenous to many parts of Europe and Western Asia. It is cultivated for various uses, both domestic and commercial purposes. The berries are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked as an ingredient in desserts. They are also used to flavor beverages such as soda, flavored water, and fruit wine. The gooseberry fruit can be preserved in the form of jam, dried fruit, and as…
Leaf curling of gooseberry leaves can either be upwards or downwards depending on a number of factors that affect your gooseberries. They could be nutritional deficiencies, disease or infection, insects, abiotic discharge, waterlogged soil, dehydration and dare I say it, even climate changes. Insect infestation and, in particular, aphids, are usually the first culprit at the first sign of leaf curling, usually affecting the new growth at the tips of the branches. I would say 90% of the time, aphids…
To successfully look after a lemon tree, you need to pay attention to three things: watering, nutrients and the environment. Watering The two main things to keep in mind when setting up a watering schedule for your lemon tree are: They very much dislike a drought-and-flood environment. Their watering needs in the summer and in the winter are very different. Citrus tree gardening experts recommend that you thoroughly water your lemon tree in its summer waterings. They suggest removing the…
If your lemon tree isn’t flowering, then it doesn’t produce lemons. It takes a lot of energy on the tree’s part to produce the flowers. So anything that interferes with the amount of energy that the tree has affects the number of flowers, if any, that it produces. Not enough sunlight / heat The lemon tree needs between four to six hours of sunlight per day to produce its energy. The best light is from off-peak hours – in the…
The length of time a lemon tree takes to grow and produce fruit depends on whether you start it from seed or buy a mature or semi-mature tree from the nursery. You’re looking at a few months to up to 10 years. How long does it take a lemon tree to produce fruit? – Once a lemon tree is 3-5 years old, it will be mature enough to produce fruit. If it’s not fruiting, check out my guide here on…
Imagine needing a lemon for your recipe or for your cocktail and going into your own garden to pluck one off a tree. Knowing how to grow lemon trees in the UK takes a bit of knowledge and practice, but it is doable. I’ve produced a series of articles on the major things to know to successfully grow your own lemon tree. And to keep it healthy from year to year for a continuous supply of fruit. Taking care of…
Lemon trees aren’t hardy in the UK and you need to grow a lemon tree in a pot to be successful. Here are the important things to know about how to choose a pot, the right kind of soil, and basic care instructions. How to choose a lemon tree pot As long as the pot is big enough for the root of your lemon tree, you have a wide choice of materials to choose from. Pot size Choose a pot…
Here’s the sequence that leads to fruit on your lemon tree: Buds produce flowers which produce lemons. A problem at any of these stages can result in your lemon tree not producing fruit. In this article I’m assuming your lemon tree is old enough to produce fruit (3-5 years) Lemon tree doesn’t have any buds A lack of buds on your tree indicates a problem with the dormancy period in the winter. Did you give your tree the correct cool…
The short answer is No, you can’t leave your lemon tree outside in winter. Lemon trees are not hardy in the British climate, even in the warmer South. Lemon trees need some warmth and humidity, neither of which is found outside in the cold winter months. So, what should you do with your lemon tree in the winter? You need to move it indoors when the nights start to cool off. We’re assuming here that your tree is planted in…