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Autumn Cuttings
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Vandalism in the conservatory and there is a baby!
October has been so mild this year. Looking through my gardening journals over the past few years, this is the first October where we have not had a frost. So far, that is!
The conservatory has been very colourful this year and the bizzie-lizzies and geraniums are still in flower. This year I grew tiny tomatoes in the border. They were so sweet to eat and of course I cooked some using Vanessa’s recipe. Half way through the season I noticed holes in the tomatoes; being an expert on slug and snail damage, I knew that they were not to blame. However standing in the doorway of the conservatory I saw movement amongst the tomatoes and found the culprit.
A blackbird! Yes, the sneaky bird had hopped into through the side window and on to the inside window ledge and was busy pecking at MY tomatoes. You might think blackbirds are so sweet with their beautiful song, bright yellow beaks but they are vandals. I had seen the bird eat the berries on the honey suckle but never would have thought that they would fancy my tomatoes.
A baby has arrived! Yes my banana plant, which had grown too tall for the conservatory and was planted outside last April, has had a baby. This side shoot is 2 feet tall. So using a spade I cut it away from mummy banana plant and dug up its tiny roots .Now it is in a pot and if all goes well will eventually be big enough to join its parent in the garden.
Successes of the year, the foxgloves and hollyhocks. All planted in a big circle. The flowers in top bed ranging from pale pink through to deep purple. Plants were gladioli, Achillea, Verbena , Plox, Salvia, lavender and Astrania ‘Deep Ruby’.
Jobs still to be done: reline lower pond, clear area behind conservatory and replant. I have grown many varieties of Aquilegias and will plant those out and then scatter hardy annuals such as Love-in-a-mist. Hardy poppies germinate very well in the autumn and become strong flowering plants next year.
Bulbs. Sorted out my tulip bulbs into colours, with mixed burnt orange ones with nearly black ‘Queen of the Night’. Also mixed up pinks with varying shades of purple. Some of these will be planted straight into the ground but others in pots; although I don’t plant bulbs until November I am beginning to dig over areas where they will go, so removing my No. 1 enemy number: couch grass. I will plant tall tulips amidst my newly planted out wallflowers...hopefully I have grown from seed red and yellow wallflowers so will put in contrasting bulbs amongst them.
I say hopefully as once again! Henry the cat pulled out the labels from the seed trays as I was ignoring him!
New web site
Very good supplier of seeds packets specializes in lettuces. They have numerous types, including those lettuce that grow through the winter. Some can planted as late as December. Also sell flower and tomato seeds plus goods suitable for presents well worth a look.
Alison
