Some Autumnal Notes
Autumn has arrived. The horse chestnut tree at the gate to the allotment is shedding her shiny conkers, there’s the scent of bonfires in the air and I have been catching up with some autumnal tasks.
The horse chestnut tree is shedding her shiny conkers…
I’ve found a local source of well-rotted cow manure. It’s free for collection so this weekend I made four trips to the farm, collected a total of 60 bags and started spreading them on the plot. It was pretty heavy work (for me and my old Skoda!) as we’ve had a few rainy days, but it was a perfect day for working outside today. Not too warm but dry and sunny with a clear blue sky. I collected enough for a good mulch on four of my no-dig beds.
I started some garlic in pots and overwintering onions in modules on the last day of September. With the warm weather and sunshine they came to life very quickly and are ready to be planted already. I’ve also started a few early cauliflower seeds in the greenhouse and will be sowing hardy broad beans soon.
There is still plenty of time to get garlic, overwintering onions and broad beans going. Here are some helpful guides.
Garlic can be planted from autumn until early spring.
On a wet evening last week I sorted through my seed collection. I always find it difficult to throw seeds away but was determined to be decisive this time. Eventually I managed to part company with half a pack of boltardy beetroot with a ‘best before’ date of 2018, and that was only because I had another two packs that were not quite so old!
It’s true that seeds do become less viable as they get older but if stored in a cool, dry place I’ve found they will last longer than the packets might have us believe.
Having sorted my stock I was able to get my seed order in ready for next year. As my strawberry bed is looking a bit tired I decided to buy some replacements. At the allotment a day or two later one of my neighbours said, ‘Want some nice strawberry plants, I’ve got loads to spare.’ Sods law! They were good looking plants so I couldn’t refuse. I’d ordered some early season and some late season plants and the ones I was given are Cambridge Favourite, a mid season variety so it worked out very well really!
Last weekend I mowed the grass around the allotment and the lawn at home for what I thought might be the last time this year, but the truth is, it’s still growing quite quickly so I expect there will be at least one more cut to do, weather permitting.
The foliage on the winter squashes was dying back and the fruits looked ready to harvest. We grew butternut, Turk’s Turban and Queensland Blue. There wasn’t a huge amount but probably more than we will be able to eat so there will be some to share with friends. Here’s a selection of the crop.
A selection of squashes. Butternut, Turk’s Turban and Queensland Blue.
There’s been some preparation for winter going on at home too. The chimney sweep, a fellow allotmenteer, made his annual visit. We swapped stories about the season’s successes and failures, our constant battle with pests and the vagaries of the weather. The usual vegetable growers chit-chat in other words.
With the chimney swept, I got some logs in. Temperatures are forecast to be close to freezing here in Wiltshire this weekend and we lit the fire for the first time this evening.
Ovaltine and hot water bottles are on standby too!