RAISED BED AND CONTAINER WEEKLY DIARY
WEEKS 1 TO 4 DECEMBER
Article by David Marks.
Not much happens in the raised bed garden during December except for harvesting parsnips. But maybe 2018 has inspired you to better things for 2019? Ordering a new raised bed may take your fancy though. Consult our pages on the prices and features of various types of raised garden beds by clicking here. It will help you decide which one is best for your garden.
HARVEST PARSNIPS
A simple task, simply grab them by the foliage near the base and gently pull them out.
HARVEST WINTER AND CHINESE RADISH
Continue to harvest winter radish as described in our main article on radishes by clicking here.
CONTAINER GROWN APPLE AND PEAR TREES
Late December through to late February is the best time to prune container grown apple and pear trees. They are dormant at this time of year which makes pruning easy because the branch structure is clearly visible. Do not prune plum trees at this time of year.
All fruit trees in containers are susceptible to damage by long periods of frost. So for the next couple of months, position the containers near to a warm house wall out of the way of strong winds.
If a strong frost is predicted then temporarily placing the trees in a cool, airy garage for a few days will protect them from damage and do them no harm. Don’t place the trees in a warm area inside though, this may bring the tree back to life in mid-winter which makes them much more prone to later frost damage.
PLANT RASPBERRY CANES
Bare-rooted raspberry canes will be on sale in December and if they are delivered they can be planted immediately if the ground is not frozen. See our main article on
growing raspberries in containers.
PREVIOUS AND FUTURE WEEKS DIARIES
January Weeks 1-4
February Weeks 1-4
March Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
April Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
May Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
June Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
July Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
August Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
September Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
October Week 1 Week 2 Weeks 3-4
November Weeks 1-4
December Weeks 1-4