Johnplotman's Journal

A damp Halloween morning.

Trick or treat for the young callers.

Hopefully the weather will hold up for the young callers with their costumes later.Some of the masks out for Halloween might often come in handy during the summer maybe,if it helped scare of some of the slugs,snails etc from the garden.I could put a contume on the scare'crow but then the vegetables might not grow with fear.

Some shrubs on the recovery list.

One of the damaged Phormiums from earlier in the year.

Looking round yesterday evening,i noticed that after the weather damage earlier in the year,that it had not been as bad as expected on a few particular shrubs.Though losing three Phormiums i notice that the two at the top arch have recovered well.Earlier in the year i removed the damaged sections etc,with advice from a member of the club here,and back it is almost to full health again.

No plans for this evening,apart from a quick check around.

Mild,but also damp this morning.

Still holding on at the bottom of the garden a short time ago..

Mornings and evenings close in fast,so light is in full demand.Away for most of yesterday [Monday] visiting,so not a lot of gardening done.I ended up looking at my Brother In Laws garden for him to check on the Rhubarh bed.The family had just arrived back from a break in Scotland and had a gift for me.Made up of a garden note book,a pen, and seeds for Heather and Scottish wild flowers.All went well on the day,and stayed for a late visit.No garden was done here yesterday as planned,except a fast check around earlier in the day.Hope to get something done there later on this evening.

Quite a cool start,but tidy up time.

Cabbage [Brassica oleracea] 2010,for dinner tomorrow.

On the frosty side this morning but dry,so good weather for doing a tidy up in the bottom area of vegetable garden.The place is in a mess this minute after splitting Rhubarb [Rheum] stools.Plenty of muck,but all in the game.For the next two hours or so,that is my plan for this morning.Heading off in the afternoon.

Winter Lettuce [Lactuca sativa]

Winter Lettuce [Lactuca sativa] 2010.

Choices are getting short for growing vegetables at winter time,but with cleaning the greenhouse etc,spreading compost,feeding birds,thinking about next years seeds,looking through notes,very earlie Potatoes etc,the gardens will still be in life but in another way.Winter Lettuce in the greenhouse developes well.

In late to join the cards last night,so no evening work done in the vegetable garden,except for a quick look around earlier in the day.Cloudy this morning with readings just above 2 deg,just after 7 am.No plans for this evening except maybe an hour in the garden shed.

Weather report not sounding the best.

Taking a few days ago,from the rose bed.

A nice paragraph about the state of the weather on the way,was to be seen in yesterday mornings paper.Does it happen or does it not.Leaves are dropping off at a very fast speed.Yesterday evening some nice windy weather was also to be around.This morning,after some rain during the night,now is bright but quite cool.A real sign of winter weather.Vegetables in the tunnel will hold for about another 3 weeks of so and some may need covering at night when frost pays a visit.Slugs are in top gear to any Potatoes not lifted yet.No plans until later on this evening.

A great fund raising night for Alzheimers.

The stars of the show.

Here in town last night a fancy dress karaoke night was held to raise funds for a worthy cause.The dance floor was packed,with admission by any donation given.Prizes had been donated for the large raffle held.Everyone that attended,enjoyed the singers,dancers,etc.Congrats to the ladies and all concerned for all the work.

In for a lovely day with weather.

Long may the rain stay off

Though starting quite cool earlier and plenty of fog around,sun has now appeared, sky looks good,and in for some lovely weather today.Yesterday evening i rushed around the mowing of the top area before heading down to spend a while working on the new exit.Heading off for the next hour or so but all plans will be to return there and finish the job.Some of the empty beds due for weeding in the vegetable garden will have an hour with them on Sunday morning.Time for a quick cuppa,and back in a short while to do as planned.

Gate hanging plans.

October sunshine.

Later this week the new exit from the vegetable garden to the area from where the clay,leaves,etc lie will finally be finished.The girder will be set in place this evening and during Saturday at some stage,plans will be to hang the gate and finish up there.This has been on the pipe line a long time now,but never done.The area was prepared a few weeks back but never any further.Now the exit gate will never need to be opened to allow any intake for the vegetable garden.Once the extra gate is in action,that will all be avoided and about 2-3 minutes knocked of an entry time.[Pictures will be added later in the week.] 

Leaves on the fall.

Earlier this morning.

Cant complain about the weather.Apart from being quite cool in the mornings,is almost similar in the evenings.During the day temperatures are up,with the greenhouse close on 20 deg,just after five o clock yesterday eveninh.Lawn mowers could be heard in action as i passed gardens,and a real sign of summer weather.Plenty of leaves are still hitting the deck though,and need cleaning up.The leaf mould bin is almost clear and ready for another fill.Later this evening i will gather up the first lot and make a start there.Hopefully by the weekend my friend will have dropped off a few more trailer fulls.Long may the touch of summer weather be here,especially at this time,and we almost in mid October..

Saturday in the garden.

Pampass Grass given a shaken up.

Took a walk around earlier in the garden and plenty of leaves are to be noticed.The leaf mould bin is empty and ready for the visitors,whenever called upon.Some mowing is due but not to serious,and can be left to another time.Temperatures are up and mildness in the air for this time of year.Not that i could say that last night,as it was quite cool with a feeling of winter in the air then.

One of the evenings earlier in the week i noticed the Pampass Grass in the bottom garden was given a visit from the wind.Not looking the best now.Needs to be given a tidy up.

Sowing some winter colour.

Colour on the left of the front door.

On return home late,from the cards last i did not get to spend any time in the tunnel, even if had it been only for a short while.I had hoped to work on some of the bins there,but another time.

First thing this morning i done some much needed work on the stone pots outside the front door.[Pan and Vio].They look a little gloomy after having the old annualls removed a short while ago.It is important to try and keep colour going.No plans for later.

I dont like the colour of the clouds.

On the dull side this morning.

On a cool morning,reading here at just above 6 deg,lt looks like rain is,but a shout away.It will improve.[we hope].Last night i was in my friends house paying a long overdue visit,and while in conservation i could hear about the forthcoming weather.I was told that we are in for the same winter as gone by,and was seen on one of the daily papers.I just almost bit my lip.Who knows strange things happen and maybe the good side of the winter weather will be on the gardeners sides.

Later this evening,im off to play the usual card games,so no plans for gardening, unless maybe an hour or so in the tunnel on return tonight at some stage.

After a down pour,now a lovely morning.

The tree reflects on the garden shed water bin.

I spent a few late hours in the tunnel,this time working on some of the tubs and weeding etc with them.Hopefully later on today i will get the chart out for there and spend a while looking through it.

After a good spill of rain from  about 4pm i could almost picture the place in a mess.The top arch will be blocked off for winter,sometime later this evening hopefully,and the bottom one,later in the week.My four legged friend would just love to run on the grass and do some ploughing there,should a crow be sighted.

The sun is out today,and looks like we are in for a nice spell.Will it be like this later on today but,is another thing. .

Some of October in the vegetable garden.

Brassica in the tunnel on the 4/10/10.

Weather is cooling on the fast side,and touches of frost,are but a shout away.Now it is from the growing season,to thinking ahead and getting ready for the next move there.All Potatoes are up by now for storing and any left will be lifted asop.Green manure will come to an end for planting about the middle of this month.The area,Potatoes have been in for this year will be given another checking near the end of this month,to make sure none,have avoided been harvested.[Better known as volunteer Potatoes] They will cause trouble and some will still have spores present that will continue,and have blight with them for next year.So it is vital to remove every last one from the ground.With Lettuce Winter Density will be used,and the tunnel will extend the growing season to another three weeks or so.Brassicas are there,along with strawberries [runners] also.Green manure has been dug back in one area there and some Spinach there alongside that patch.Pots will be started for over wintering,and as we approach the end of the month,and thinking on for a for a real earlie crop in the outer vegetable bed,thought will be given to some Broad Beans.No complaints about weather for today.A nice bright morning.Despite a nip in the air,once rain stays away we will put up with that.Hopefully it will be similar weather for this evening.

Feeding our feathered friends over winter.

Keep them on our side.

On the way home last night i called to the local shop to collect a few things,and i had to go to the section for bird feed without fail.They will be depending on food soon,as the place will be frozen up for them to get some.Some of the underground good guys on the gardeners sides will be safe,but above ground,not.On a cold winters day it is important to mind our feathered friends and keep them with us in the garden,as much as possible..