Weather wise this has been a difficult year, causing problems through out the garden and poly-tunnel.

 

This month sees a roundup of many jobs, putting things to bed as it were for the winter. I will be clearing the old plants such as broad beans and peas, cabbage and seeding chard. The manure and compost application will start, as well as the clearing up of fallen leaves.

 

In the poly-tunnel, harvesting of tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, French dwarf beans (a particularly good crop this year) and salads continues. I will be planting cauliflower and broccoli next week for a mid winter crop.

 

Outside most things have been harvested. There are still pink fir apple and golden wonder potatoes, celery, celeriac spinach and leeks. The last of the oriental salad leaves are currently being used.

 

We had a great crop of apples, with many boxes of both cookers and eaters picked and ready for use. The chefs are presently thinking up new ways of using them all.   A few black berries remain.

 

Looking back over the year, the new raised herb and seating area has been a great success with the flowering herbs still looking stunning. The peas and bean crops have been outstanding. The brassica (cabbage) and carrot crops were a disappointment this year. I will have to invest in netting to ward off the cabbage butterfly and the carrot fly.

 

Part of the wall of the walled garden fell during the year. This has been rebuilt along with a garden shed that is now nearly completed. I hope to bring the remaining uncultivated areas into production during the winter months.

 

More tree planting, throughout the grounds is being planned for Feb ’09. This will include a mix of deciduous, coniferous, both ordinary and exotic…. perhaps 30 or more trees.

 

The next garden newsletter is planned for spring 2009. To all who visited the garden this year, do come again. The many positive, complimentary comments and your shared knowledge and advice was most appreciated.

 

 

 

 

Dennis

15. 09. ‘08