Allotments 4 All

last year i planted 4 clem (montana/doctor ruppel are in pots & polish spirit /daniel deronda are planted in the borders hoping they'll cover an unsightly fence).they are all looking healthy. i didn't attempt to prune any of them,should i have?i'm abit scared in case i kill them off. any advice as to what i should this year to keep them alive would be appreciated.thanks

C. montana would have been better planted in the border as it is a very vigorous grower and will need lots of food and water in a pot. None of the ones you mention need any major pruning except to remove dead or unwanted growth in February/March back to a new green bud. To keep your plants healthy all they really need is plenty of water, a fed with tomato food ever now and then and protection round where they emerge from the soil from slugs.

thanks p. the montana is also hiding another tatty fence ( i really should invest in some new fencing :))& it appears to be doing the job rather well. glad to hear no major pruning involed ;D

Beg to differ but polish spirit is a viticella type (flowers late summer - autumn). I pruned mine back below knee high a couple of weeks ago.   :)

You are right, Simon, the book I looked in has an error. When I re-checked with a different, more up to date book, Polish Spirit is indeed a viticella type. However, since we planted ours  about6  years ago it has never been pruned, becuase of the mis-information and it still flowers well. Ta!