Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2015 | Page 90
GARDENING
Fruits of the Autumn
W
ith Autumnal winds brewing
and leaves falling around,
we’re turning the corner into
the colder months: time to wrap up and
find some wholesome jobs to do to keep
us warm.
With the majority of the vegetable plot
produce cropped, stored or used, we are
left with some of our staple winter crops
to keep us going over the colder months.
Root vegetables, cabbages and winter
salads grown in the (slightly) warmer
polytunnel add interest in an otherwise
quieter period on the plot. The broad
beans have also been sown, ready for
an early start in the spring. A thick muck
mulch will also be applied to the plot
soon to break down naturally over the
coming months.
The apple and pear crop this year has
been great and has far outshone last
year. The early winds have created quite a
lot of windfalls on the ground and, keen
not to waste an opportunity, we have
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been juicing batches of apples ready
for our orchard blend of apple juice and
medium and dry ciders. Any apples that
have been steadfast in the trees are being
handpicked and eaten straight away or
stored in the abbey, being careful that
none have blemishes that will encourage
them to rot. Some apples have been
stewed and married with our hedgerow
blackberries for the perfect pudding
combination.
This year also provided a bumper crop
of berry fruits. Our cloister mulberry
was groaning under the weight of fruit,
as were the newly planted fruits trained
along the walled garden wall.
In the borders we have been removing
tired and spent perennial stems to tidy
their general appearance. Now is also the
time to divide herbaceous perennials.
High on the list is removing fallen
leaves to reduce the risk of smothering
plants and also the lawn. Although it
seems like a thankless task, it is always
Matt Noyce is head
gardener at Quarr
Abbey, and is
responsible for the
200 acres of gardens,
pastureland,
vegetable plots and
private woodland on
the estate.
worth removing the leaves regularly to
prevent bare patches appearing under
compacted leaves on the lawn.
In preparation for further winter winds,
attention is now given to vulnerable
shrubs and trees by pruning where
appropriate (to reduce ‘wind rock’) and
checking stakes and ties around our
precious new plantings.
Pictures by Matt Noyce