October Tips
NOW IS THE TIME TO…
sow garlic and broad beans, both of which will grow well in a new plot, though if the soil is heavy, you will need to dig some horticultural sand or grit into the soil for the garlic. It is best to buy ‘seed’ garlic, rather than break up a bulb bought in the veg shop, in case of disease. Just divide the bulb into individual cloves and push into the soil, about 15 cm apart, just covering each clove.
You will be harvesting your own broad beans and garlic in June.
AUTUMN, ‘NATURE’S PLANTING TIME’.
Autumn is often referred to as ‘nature’s planting time’. At this time of year, fruits and seeds are prolific in gardens and hedgerows. The soil is warm, much warmer than it will be in the Spring, and easily worked; the days are shortening and becoming cooler, so any hardy plants planted or seeds sown now are unlikely to require much watering and attention throughout the winter. Weed germination is slowing down. Gardening is easy now. So October is a good time to start a vegetable plot and is the start of the allotment renting year.
STARTING AN ALLOTMENT OR VEGETABLE PLOT.
An allotment/ vegetable plot is hard work, needing your attention throughout the year on a regular basis but it is very rewarding. Most people are surprised by the size of a standard allotment: 10 rods/ 30x90feet/16 to the acre, which is big when you consider that the density of some modern housing can be 40 to the acre. Most of our allotments in South Petherton are half sized plots.
Choosing the site.
A sunny, sheltered site is best: if it’s a place where you’d enjoy sitting in the spring, it’s the best place for your vegetable plot!
To spray or not to spray?
You will possibly take on a weedy neglected plot and people will tell you it will be impossible to clear without chemicals. Dig or weed a little at a time on a regular basis, frequently re-weeding what you did first and all will be well. The priority is to remove weeds which have set seed. There is a theory that all chemicals harm the micro organisms in the soil. These micro organisms give the soil its fertility. You can cover soil with wet newspaper/cardboard then cover with compost/ grass cuttings and all but the strongest weeds will die. You can plant through this mulch in Spring. Black plastic should only be used in the short term, because the soil under it lacks water and oxygen, which harms those precious micro organisms.
To dig or not to dig?
Most people dig regularly. The no-dig system advocates covering the (weedy) soil with manure regularly and letting the worms and other creatures do the work for you, though you would need to dig out perennial weeds. It is the soil borne creatures, rather than the manure, which make the soil fertile. Soil should be disturbed as little as possible to allow these creatures to multiply unchecked.
To rotavate or not to rotavate?
Beware! Rotavating will chop up any perennial weed roots (eg dandelion, couch grass) in the soil, thus producing masses of cuttings and more weeds. Most of our local soil is very sandy soil, which will break down too finely if cultivated too much. So digging is usually best.
AN EXPENSIVE BOUQUET
TO IMPRESS THE PROSPECTIVE MOTHER IN LAW
Materials required
5 Pink Roses
3 Orange Gerbera
4 Pale Orange Spray Roses
4 Dark Purple Lysianthus
3 Lime Green Spider Chrysanthemums
4 Pale Purple Allium
6 Strands Bear Grass
3 Stems Ruscus
3 Palm Leaves
String or ribbon to tie Cellophane or tissue paper to wrap (optional)
Method
Chose a rose that is still in bud and use as your central flower
Hold in left hand and add another bloom.
Turn arrangement through 45 degrees
Continue to add all blooms and foliage - after each addition turn through 45 degrees
As you add choose a mixture of colours and textures
Tie with string or ribbon - it is easier to get another person to do this
Wrap if required.
Tell recipient to place in vase without untying.
