Winter Fruit Calendar

Harvesting & Storing Fruit in Mid Winter

Continue to inspect stored fruit removing any which are showing signs of spoiling

Care, Pruning & planting  fruit in Mid Winter

Continue pruning out dead or diseased shoots on apple and pear trees

Prune newly planted cane fruit

Continue pruning established bush fruit if not already done 

Continue planting new fruit trees and bushes if the soil conditions allow. If the ground is too waterlogged or frozen,  keep bare rooted plants in a frost free cool place ensuring the roots don't dry out

Protecting Fruit in Mid Winter

Apply grease bands to your trees now to stop another infestation next year

Check that fruit cages and netting are secure  

Spray apple and pears trees against canker  

Start spraying peaches and nectarines against peach leaf curl from the middle of the month or  cover fan trained trees with polythene sheeting

Spray dormant fruit trees against over-wintering aphid eggs 

Planning and Buying Fruit in Mid Winter  

Order fruit seeds

Plan new fruit beds and plots

Jobs to do in the Fruit Garden in Late Winter

(February - UK)

Harvesting and Storing Fruit in Late Winter

Inspect any fruit you have in store and remove any which are rotten

Start harvesting young tender rhubarb, picking 1 or 2 sticks from each plant at any one time

Pruning & planting  fruit in Late Winter

Continue planting trees and bushes if the soil conditions allow. If the soil is very heavy or frosted, heel-in bare-rooted plants in a sheltered area

Prune stone fruit trees (apart from plums and established peach and nectarine trees) once growth starts in late February

Complete the formative pruning of new pear and apple trees

Complete the formative pruning of 1,2 and 3 year old peach and nectarine trees

Prune established pear and apple trees if this hasn't already been done except in hard frost

Prune established autumn-fruiting raspberry canes

Cut down newly planted raspberry canes to about 22cm/9" if not already done

Care and Protecting Fruit in Late Winter

Protect early blossoms on trees a double layer of netting or fleece if frost is expected

Cover strawberries with cloches or poly tunnels for an earlier crop

Hand pollinate early flowering trees particularly if insects seem scarce

Spray peaches and nectarines against peach leaf curl by the middle of the month

Inspect pear and apple trees for canker and treat if necessary

Apply fertiliser to trees and bushes towards the end of the month (see individual growing pages)