Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2014 | Page 58

IN THE GARDEN
With Tina Hughes

Winter draws on!
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is
giving way to short days as winter draws on. I often
feel slightly gloomy at the prospect of the long cold
nights and short days, but this year's different as
I've recently moved. I'm looking forward to some
new challenges as I take on a new garden. This
winter I'll be undertaking some major pruning and
I'll be making notes and plans for next year and
beyond, while making the most of the abundant
blackberries that have invaded the hedges before
doing battle with the brambles.

Pot luck this winter
Plants in pots and other containers need to be
prepared for winter. Plants can die from waterlogging or freezing, especially if they are left with a
saucer underneath the pot. Some pots may benefit
from being raised on feet or bricks to ensure
adequate drainage whilst tender plants appreciate
even more protection with a fleece jacket and a
duvet made by filling a bin liner with shredded
paper or bubble wrap to protect the roots.

Have beans!

Jobs to do
November is a good
month to carry
out many garden
housekeeping tasks,
prune blackcurrants,
redcurrants and
gooseberries. Dig over
borders and clear away
any garden debris that
has accumulated.

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Even before winter's arrived, I'm
thinking ahead to next spring
and how I can be one step ahead
before all the work starts. An
autumn-sown crop of broad
beans is just the thing to give me
an early harvest of tender young
beans. Autumn sowing has several
advantages, the roots take up
nutrients that would otherwise
wash away; they won't succumb
to black fly and young tops as well
as small tender pods can be eaten.
Try Aquadulce Claudia (AGM) or
Super Aquadulce which are good
autumn varieties.