Ralph has recently been asked a few questions about Rudbeckia , perennial plants and fruit trees, so here’s some advice for you on those subjects…………
Perennials
Whilst it is not quite the time to plant – still too dry and hot – it is time to be thinking about your planting for next year. With summer perennials, and I was asked about Rudbeckia Goldsturm in particular, now is the time when they will be dying back, however plants can still be purchased (2-3ltr size) and they are likely to still be in flower so that you can see their colour. Garden centres are often reducing the prices now as well. My recommendation is to purchase perennials now, especially if you can get a good bargain, and sink the plant pot and all into a patch of spare ground while you dig and prepare the bed you want the perennials to grow in. It is recommended that you purchase plants in three’s and plant out in spring.
Fruit Trees
It is too early to buy and transplant bare root trees. They are the cheapest and best way to plant fruit trees but they will not be available until November. However, it’s not too early to plan what you want to buy and to prepare the ground. The following were recommended to me by Reg Price, our past President, as good for showing:
Apples:
Charles Ross - Eater
Laxtons Fortune - Eater - Early
Cox’s Orange Pippin - Eater
Peasgood Nonsuch - Cooker
Arthur Turner - Cooker
Warner’s King - Cooker but old variety
Pears:
William
Commis
Make sure you know what rootstock they have been grafted on to; M27 is very dwarfing and trees will need support; M9 is dwarfing; M26 is semi dwarfing & MM106 is semi-vigorous. Check with supplier as to how to interpret these sizings with the variety you are buying. More than one tree is required to guarantee good fertilization of flowers. For example Charles Ross is flowering group 3 but is partially self-fertile.
If you’ve got any more questions, please send through to info@astonclintonhorticulturalsociety.co.uk