Its been a funny kind of day................

[dexterdoglancashire]

said Arkwright every evening as he shut his shop up in Open all Hours.

I've had a strange day as well - good but sad. Spent this afternoon digging over my little plots, putting on the pony poo and putting on my green manure seeds. (Not sure if I should've done both at the same time, but it's to late now! )

Worked quite hard and did four sections of my back garden. A very satisfying day work/exercise wise, but a strangely sad day in the respect that it's all over for this year.

I've had a super time - and have learnt so much THANKS TO YOU GUYS! I still have lots to learn and am planning and looking forward to next year!

Does anyone else feel the same? DDL

[nick the grief]

...........but a strangely sad day in the respect that it's all over for this year............DDL

It's not the end DDL, it's the begining ANother 2 months & I'll be sowing my onions, planting shallots & starting to get readdy for the 100 or so chrysanthemum cuttings I need to take, plus all the other stuff that will need sowing & harvesting those lovely spuds (hopefully) to have at Christmas. I'm just getting excited.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Yep Nick - I've got my onions, and garlic, and cabbage and caulis (well a couple!) and tatties in (for christmas) it's just a strange feeling that my "beds" have now been "put to bed" until next year. My OH said he was proud that I'd "stuck to it"! DDL

[rustylady]

Well, wasn't that big of OH.

You're well ahead of me this year DDL, still got to plant the garlic and onions. One of the really good things about this time of year is that you get to look at all the new seed catalogues!

You read through them, make a list of everything you would like to try, Halve it cos you won't have the room, halve it again cos you haven't the room and can't afford the cost of the order. It doesn't matter though, because you are looking forward and planning for next year and that's what it's all about. It's not just a fad, it's a way of life. Good luck and happy dreaming

[dexterdoglancashire]

It's brill isn't it? I didn't do this last year - only started back garden in February then it was Easter before we got chance to get it sorted - so am well happy this time and looking forward to planting all my seeds! DDL

[Snadger]

Still in my lottie to harvest are:-
Turnips(three kinds),
Cauliflower
,French beans,
Three lots of carrots sown at intervals,
Tuscano Kale,
Red kale,
More indeterminate kale(lost seed packet)
Purple sprouting brocccoli
Winter savoy cabbage (two kinds)
Brussel sprouts
Leeks
Autumn sown onions(from seed)
Autumn sown onions sets(early sown)
Autumn sown onions(sown today)
Sweetcorn
Outdoor tomatoes
Cougettes
Marrows
Carnations
Chrysanths
Very rare species of non-flowering sweet peas
Butter beans
Borlotti beans
Spring cabbage(late n Early)
Horseradish
Jersey royal potatoes,(for crimbo)
Lettuce
Swede

Still to sow imminently:-
Broad beans (four different types including Epicure red seeded)
Garlic(shop bought and Garden centre bought for trial)
More spring cabbage to plant out(cut a head for dinner today!)
Shallots
Green manure(when I can find somewhere to put it!)

Definately not time to wind down!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Blimey Snadger! you must have a big one! Lottie that is! mine is about as big as you can see on my picture! DDL

[Alice]

It's not finished DDL. You just get started for next year. It's just different things you're doing. Glad you enjoyed your first year gardening. As your experience grows you will be harvesting later and later. I find things to do 12 months a year and sometimes wish there was 14.

[bramble]

Talking about winding down, what does everyone do in the winter when its all over in the garden and its too cold or dark to go to the lottie.
I have been doing patchwork for the past couple of winters. The minute the gardening season starts however the patchwork gets put away until the next winter. I also do some knitting and knit dolls clothes. The library sees a lot more of me in the winter also. Wonder what everyone else does.

[JennieAtkinson]

Sadly Bramble all the housework that doesn't get done in the summer ....... (anyone else have that problem?)

I do find time for a bit of craftwork though - scrapbooking and card making, but I am into amateur dramatics and its panto this year - OH yes it is !

[annie trip]

Snadger you are just showing off!!!

Green with envy tho,it is a learning curve and i already know loads more than when i started in feb and hopefully be more productive,

One important thing i learned however was not to grow things i dont like,like curly kale and borage!!!!

[Earthbabe]

Well done Snadger. We've still got greens (mainly Kale), leeks, spinach and beet. I'm finding self seeded marjoram and lavender in my garden, harvesting herbs for drying and stuff, harvesting seeds. You're well ahead of me DDL. I've still got to get onions, garlic and beans in.

Yes it is a bit sad in that the trees are winding down, leaves are falling and we are heading into the dark part of the year, but come December 21 the days will start to draw out again and come Feb (Candlemas) it will be noticeabley lighter again at the end of the day, the early bulbs will be in flower and will all be gearing up for Spring.

It's good that you've enjoyed your first year. This is my second but made all the more enjoyable by finding the forum, learning lots, getting ideas and feeling more enthused than I have time for at the moment.

[Birdie Wife]

I'm plannign for next year, I keep seeing new things and wanting to try them but thinking I haven't got the room but ending up tyring to squeeze them in somewhere anyway!

Congratualtions DDL on coming a cropper!

[yoanbob]

dont have a problem finding things to do, havnt dug my beds yet, tonight im fitting a bath panel and replacing floorboards, project for the winter is removing a wall, a chimney breast and building a kitchen, ddl if your missing it you could come do mine.

[Snadger]

Snadger you are just showing off!!!

Green with envy tho,it is a learning curve and i already know loads more than when i started in feb and hopefully be more productive,

One important thing i learned however was not to grow things i dont like,like curly kale and borage!!!!

I was just showing off a bit, but it isn't til you jot something down you realise how much you have!

I absolutely adore Kale, its easy to grow,mainly clubroot resistant, pests don't seem to bother it, it is available when not much else is in season and it tastes wonderful to me!
Never grown borage so I can't comment, grown Bergamot though as I love Earl Grey tea! A few leaves scalded in the cup with a tea bag makes a refreshing drink!
Agree wholeheartedly about only growing things you or your family like but like to experiment now and again to find new things! If you don't try them you'll never know!