Garden Workshop Notes
Eric Kay took some notes from the gardening event on the 1st of November. Jane Molloy gave us some handy tips specific to our backcourt greenery.
VEGETABLES
Veg Plot: dig-in compost at this time of year to enrich soil. In spring plant leaf vegetables brassicas and salad crops
After a crop of potatoes there is a wide choice for “rotation”, (brassicas, leaf veg, runner beans etc) Crop rotation in a small patch is difficult to achieve.
Rhubarb is a greedy feeder. Rich compost manure and feed will help it respond
Just a scattering of bone meal is required to stimulate micro-organisms thus enriching the soil.
FRUIT TREES & BUSHES
Currant bushes: prune in autumn but not too severely unless the bushes are spreading too much
Raspberry canes: Can leave pruning till spring when the dead canes will be obvious and can be cut off at ground level. The tops of the canes with recent growth can be trimmed in the spring to keep the crop within reach and to stimulate fruiting. Add mulch to the soil round fruit bushes in the spring.
Don’t prune if there is frost coming
When pruning use sharp secateurs and cut as near to the ‘parent’ branch as possible if you are cutting out diseased or unwanted branches.
Fruit trees like apple need to be pruned, taking the shoots two thirds back from the top of new growth (if the tree has been well managed) otherwise take the tree back to an acceptable size making sure there are no crossing branches.
FLOWERING
Geraniums. Take some cuttings in autumn and root them indoors in case plants are lost with the frost
Laburnum – cut out lower branches and any suckers now (autumn)
Buddleia: Cut back severely in the spring
Plants to grow on Burr Elm log: nasturtiums, moss and mushrooms
Antirrhinums: Shake seed heads into a paper bag to collect for spring planting
Rose by log was pruned and should be taken back to “knee height” in spring. Ultimately it should GO.
Choose native bluebells as Italian variety become too dominant.
Lavender: Take cuttings now (Autumn) but with green stem (not woody) cut above a node and strip off lower leaves. 10 cuttings in 6” pot for rooting and keep indoors but not in too hot a location till spring.
HERBS
Create an exclusive herb patch within reach of the edge of the plot by the Laburnum tree. Move grasses, shrubs etc away to more suitable spots
Dead stocks on Mint can be cut away now (Autumn).
INFORMATION
Royal Horticultural Society Website and publications excellent source of answers, tips and ideas.
When autumn gardening, take out things that are clearly dead to tidy up but if you strip back too much there will be no frost cover for new growth, which has already started. Non-hardy annuals, like petunia can be removed but trim back hardy annuals and perennials leaving some protection from hard frosts. (Some plants that look dead may have died back and the roots will over winter fine.)
COMPOST
Obtain and set up a third compost bin and let the existing bins mature. Secret of good compost is to fill with mix of green & brown materials and stir!. Newspaper, egg boxes and other card items can provide lightness. Weather in GOW will mean that worm compost rather than heat generated break down of materials most likely to succeed.
Vermicomposting information
(Detailed but informative and you do not need all the equipment suggested.)
Only raw vegetable materials to be put into compost in future. GOW will need to join a digester scheme if any cooked items are to be composted.
Riddle (sieve) the compost when it is ready so as to remove larger items, eggshells, avocado stones and material not yet rotted down.
SPRING BULBS
Bulbs are planted at a depth 3 times the size of the bulb. Dig a hole bigger than you think and loosen the soil beneath. If the bulb is too deep it will work its way up but it will not thrive if planting is too shallow. Plant spring bulbs from late summer through autumn. Plant bulbs in groups in odd numbers.
GOOD IDEAS: Set up a plot in a sheltered spot for rooting cuttings.Set up a holding plot to transplant things you are not certain of to check if they are weeds or plants
To attract bees : Marjoram, thyme, heather, fennel, feverfew, borage, sage. See tips here on what plants attract bees to a garden.
Transplant the camellia on wedge to a spot by extension near fire door. Extension: Train up varieties if Ivys and plant Virginia creeper by door of No 21 Gibson.
A further Gardening Workshop will be held in the Spring (End March beginning April) to take the next steps for the GOW garden.
