Tag Archives: October

Looking Good in the Garden in Mid-November

The greenhouse benches are filling up with autumn sown seedlings.

These hippeastrum bulbs (also known as amaryllis) should sprout soon and flower around Christmas.

Hippeastrum’

Containers of miniature bulbs have been planted ready for spring.

Freshly potted up, these auriculas will spend the winter in the coldframe.

Rosehips festoon the garage wall – they remain this lovely amber colour.

Rosehips’

Leonotus leonurus has only just come in to flower but is worth the wait for its bright orange flowers.

Leonotus Leonurus’

On taking a closer look at the large mushroom growing in the garden I discovered the surrounding area was covered with small fungi.

The nerines look particularly vibrant against the backdrop of an ivy clad wall.

Nerines

More Timely advice for October

Harvest seed on a dry bright day
Begin sowing hardy annuals in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame
Remove saucers from under containers before the weather turns frosty. This will prevent damage to roots and terracotta pots
Sow Aquadulce Broadbeans outdoors for an early crop next year

I Couldn’t do Without in October 2009

My wooden mallet. For most garden jobs it is much better than a hammer – whether banging in canes, firming plant supports, or relaying bricks in the path it inflicts less damage on the object – and myself.

Timely Advice for October 2009

Spread leafmould where you plan to plant carrots and other root vegetables next year.

Remove mulch from around soft fruit bushes to expose pests for the birds to eat. Burn the mulch rather than composting.

Self-sown forget-me-nots can be divided and replanted.

Tie in new growth of climbers to avoid damage by autumnal gales.

October is the best month to lay turf.

Looking Good in the Garden at the beginning of October Part One

Hydrangea Madame Moulliere has gone from purest white to green flushed with pink.

Moulliere’

Although I’m not a fan of hybrid tea roses, this inherited dark red one is too healthy and flowers too well to be given the boot.

Tea Roses’

In this corner of the country we have had no significant rain for months but the sedums*[105] don’t seem to notice.

Sedums

The new raspberries canes ‘Polka’ are cropping wonderfully well with huge delicious berries. Available from Thompson and Morgan.

Raspberries’