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November is on its way and hopefully, you have managed a good tidy up. October did not see an early winter after all and temperatures remained mild with a few chilly nights. Let’s hope that continues. The garden tidy up has gone reasonably well this year and it was pleasing to finally get a pick of Climbing Beans right at the end. These have now been lifted and in the compost bin. Beans can be cut off at ground level and the roots left in the ground, but this was not a good year and I will move the bean trench to the sunniest spot where it will remain permanently. The trench has been dug and filled with compost so garden and kitchen trimmings will go straight into the compost bin.
I only got one marrow this year and despite holding off for a second, none of the flowers set so that is now in the compost bin… no stuffed marrow this Easter! I lifted most of the potatoes but the milder weather has changed my mind and I will leave the remainder in the ground. They stay fresher in the ground… as long as it does not freeze! I lost a rhubarb plant this year so November is the month to divide a crown and replant.
The lawn is getting raked and kept clear of leaves and the borders are getting tidied. Still plenty of colour with the cyclamen in bloom as well. At the time of writing, we have not yet had a hard frost but this will happen soon and the Autumn flowers will get finished off. All the fruit is picked and the apples were good this year, although this has not always been good news for commercial growers. The fruits have been so large they are difficult to package and the supermarkets are rejecting them!
Insulate pots with bubble wrap or at least raise them of the ground and give evergreen hedges a final trim. If you want to keep going in the garden now is a good time to paint sheds and fences and give some thought to wildlife especially birds. There is a vast selection of different feeders available, some that favour the smaller birds which can easily be bullied off bird tables. Also clean out any nesting boxes as the blue tits will start checking them out as early as January.
We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.
If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
