Work for the week. . .

CAMELLIAS: Modern hybrids of Camellia are very hardy and in most gardens are very free-flowering.

Names to bear in mind include ‘Bow Bells’ in light pink and ‘Debbie’ which is a darker pink. This latter form is quite a stunner, and most reliable even on soils which are not decidedly acid. These evergreens appreciate a lightly shaded position in soil that is rich in peat, leaf mould or pine-needles. To keep the leaves dark green on soils where these are not plentiful, feed regularly during the period midsummer to autumn, with the likes of Miracid plant food. If you love these shrubs and want to splash out on their long-term well-being, then collect a tidy bag of pine-needles and spread then beneath the branch spread. You’ll give them the lift of a lifetime and they’ll respond accordingly.

MILD WEATHER: This year’s mild winter may lead to smaller fruit crops this autumn with a subsequent rise in prices. Most hardy fruit plants need a period of chilling during winter in order to encourage flowering. If there is not a prolonged cold period, plants will start growing earlier than normal and may flower early too. This could put them at a greater risk of damage if there is frost during March, April and early May. Early flowering may also mean less fruit being set as there may be fewer pollinating insects around. Any cold spells may help, but many fruit experts suggest that a long spell would better ensure that any growth and flowering development is held back. If you have only one or two fruit bushes that have started filling their buds then these should be covered with some horticultural fleece or an old curtain in hard frosts.