The Gardeners Almanac

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My Back Garden

Wisteria


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Week Numbers

Coldframe

Compost

Frost

Heating

Heel Cuttings

Nodal Cuttings

Planting Out

Pricking Out

Pruning

Seed Sowing

Overview:

Wisteria in Flower

Wisterias grow well in most soils providing they have plenty of space for root growth.

The flower buds are produced at the base of the previous year's growth so this can make them susceptible to damage by late frosts or cold winds.

To counteract this, they are best planted on a south or west-facing wall.

Similarly, when the plant is grown as a tree, it is better to plant it in a sheltered position.


Wisteria grown as a Tree

For best appearance the plant/s should be trained to their allotted space in their first couple of year’s growth i.e. before the main stems mature and become too difficult to move.


To do this, concentrate on establishing equally spaced main branches across the area to be covered by tying the branches into strong trellis or horizontal wires fixed to the wall.

Keep trellis / wires about 50mm (2") from the wall.


Trees should be secured to a stout, upright stake until it is mature enough to self support itself.


Cultivation:

Week 8-10:

Cut back all growths to within two or three buds of the base of the previous year's growth.(see pruning section below)


Week 13:

Sow seed in pots/trays of seed compost and germinate at a temperature of 10°- 13°C (50°-55°F)

Pot the seedlings into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost, and grow on in a cold frame.


Week 21:

Layer suitable strong shoots / stems.

The layers will root within a year.


Week 27:

Pot on seedlings into 150mm (6") and grow on in the cold frame until planting out time.


Week 28;

Where large specimens need to be controlled, cut the season's young growth back to within five or six buds of its base. (See pruning section below)


Week 29:

Continue training plants as new growth forms.


Week 32:

Take 75-100mm heel or nodal cuttings from the base of the current year's wood.

Insert them in a 50-50 mix by volume of peat and sharp sand and place in a propagator set at 16°C (60°F) to root.

Once rooted pot up into 100mm (4") pots of potting compost and grow in a cold frame until planting out time.


Week 40:

Plant out young pot grown plants now or wait till circa Week 14.

Provide a permanent support and tie the growths to it until the twining stems can gain a firm hold.


Train Wisterias from an early age, otherwise the shoots rapidly become twisted and impossible to deal with as the wood firms up.

Space the main growths of recently planted plants about 200mm (8”) apart, tying these in to pillars, pergolas or supporting wall wires.

Cut back laterals,(side growths) on established main stems to 150mm (6”) long.

This can be done in either, one operation, or over a period of about three weeks.

Reduce to two or three buds next winter.


Common Problems:

Lack of flowers: there are several reasons why this may occur.

For example:

Circa week 16-18:

Apply super-phosphate at a rate of 70gms (2oz) per sq m and sulphate of potash at 35gms (1oz) per sq m.

Frost: flower buds may fall off in fluctuating day and night temperatures.

Wisteria flower more freely if pruned to restrict growth.


Pruning:

Once the basic framework has been established, you can begin pruning to maximise flower production, this is generally carried out twice a year.


Circa week 28-35:

Tie in new shoots as required, then shorten the current season's shoots back to 300mm (12”) long, this allows a spur system to develop, the wood to ripen, and ultimately encourage flower bud formation.

Any whippy shoots that grow after this pruning should be cut back to five or six buds from the main branch, make the cut just above a bud.


Circa week 8-10:

The following year, these same shoots can be pruned back to leave two or three buds, this action should form a spur around 50mm (2") long.

It should be possible to distinguish the flower buds from the growth buds as these are larger and more rounded than the thinner, more pointed growth buds.

If major pruning is required to mature plants that have been neglected, then stagger renovation over several years.

All parts of the plant are poisonous including the flowers and seeds.