Gardening: Brian Kidd answers your questions (May 3)

From broken pots to gooseberry bushes, our gardening expert solves your problems.
A gooseberry bush bearing fruit.A gooseberry bush bearing fruit.
A gooseberry bush bearing fruit.

Q: I’ve looked at my gooseberry bushes and the tips on two have rooted making it difficult to hoe. Shall I cut them back and if so, when? GM, Eastney

A: Right now and you won’t waste much fruit. Prune so there is six inches between the cut and the soil surface. Prune to an upward-facing bud so new shoots won’t grow down.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Q: I’ve had to sort out my dad’s greenhouse. Most things are labelled but there’s half a bucket of broken clay pots, are they useful? And can you recommend a small evergreen tree to plant in memory of him? CK, Fratton

A: Bless his heart. He saved them to break them with a hammer to put them in the base of flowerpots to ensure good drainage. As he is special buy a potted Sophora Sun King. This can be kept small if pruned as soon as flowers fade. It will flower from late February to June.

Q: I put a dustbin over my rhubarb with bricks on top to prevent the wind blowing it away. There are about 20 long red stems more than three feet high but the leaves are ll curled and yellow. Is it safe to eat these sticks? SL, Warblington

A: Yes, the leaves are yellow because the light could not get into the bin. You will probably find this is the finest rhubarb you have ever tasted. I put manure round mine but you may prefer custard!

• Got a question for Brian? Click here and fire away.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.