GARDENING: Jobs for the weekend with Brian Kidd

'¢Take three-inch cuttings from aubrietia plants and remove the bottom two inches of leaves. Insert them in a 50/50 mix of sharp sand and seed compost. Keep them shaded, protect from cats and they should root in four weeks.

'¢Put greenhouse ferns in a shady part of the greenhouse. Many get scorched leaves if left in direct hot sunshine.

'¢Feed greenhouse cucumbers by top-dressing the surface of the compost with a little Vitax Q4 fertiliser and water afterwards with a rose on the watering can. In a few days, new white roots will appear on the compost's surface. When these roots are seen top-dress the surface of the compost with John Innes No3 compost. This will increase the number of fruits. Repeat the action several times at weekly intervals.

'¢Summer prune apple trees by cutting side shoots to half their length. Prunings will be soft and should be composted. This  will induce fruit buds for next year's apples.

'¢Use fingers and thumbs to see if early potatoes are ready. Don't dig the whole plant. Give it a liquid feed to encourage more tubers

'¢Thin grapes again and blow sulphur dust into the centre of the bunches to prevent powdery mildew.

'¢Check tall flowers in borders. They may need support if you didn't use hazel sprays in March.'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹

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