Herbs are still doing well. The raspberries still have green fruit on but I do not think they will turn red. Nearly time to cut my variety down to ground level. Collecting fennel seeds at the moment. Still cookers to pick.     

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With a heart heavy with the reluctance of a fourteenth century maiden going to her nuptial chamber, I pulled out the tomatoes (except one) today. They were still shoving forth fruits- and these ripening albeit slowly in the low, wan light of October- but their spindly arms, yellowed by the season and this uncommon dryness that has, with minor interruption, prevailed these few months, and that tatty brown-ness about the grounds in general, it seemed humane to proceed with the seasons' own agenda; one cannot hang on to summer forever.

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With a heart heavy with the reluctance of a fourteenth century maiden going to her nuptial chamber, I pulled out the tomatoes (except one) today. They were still shoving forth fruits- and these ripening albeit slowly in the low, wan light of October- but their spindly arms, yellowed by the season and this uncommon dryness that has, with minor interruption, prevailed these few months, and that tatty brown-ness about the grounds in general, it seemed humane to proceed with the seasons' own agenda; one cannot hang on to summer forever.

Going to do the same tomorrow, Bert.

Just a few grape sized small green ones left.

Gonna' miss picking a few a day.

Had a great crop this year it just kept giving.

We have has an excellent tomato and cucumber year - good sweet corn too. Beans were quite good - more than enough. The Victoria Plums did well and we have harvested our quinces - not as many as last year.
Everything is very back-endish now. I'd like to give the grass a final good cut, but the wet will not let me just now.
Planning to give the bees a final feed this week - to top them up for the coming winter.

I noticed yesterday the hedges were heaving with fieldfares - 50+. A very good year for hips and haws here and they are tucking in.

Roger

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Had the last of the raspberries. Have now cut down the canes. The new strawberry plants from the runners have now filled up some empty spaces in the big wooden pallet planter.  A couple of cotton bushes and a some Heuchera  have been added for winter   colour.

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First white frost on the coast here last night. Nasturtiums, still in full bloom, looked a bit unhappy but have recovered in the sunshine.

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First white frost on the coast here last night. Nasturtiums, still in full bloom, looked a bit unhappy but have recovered in the sunshine.

Same for us- we used to see the nasturtiums hang on until the first frost obliterated them but we realise that the slightest frost (down to between 0 and -0.5C) still leaves most OK- if it warms up quickly and there's not much moisture in the frost.

Ours survived, as did the chillies and some tropical exotics, amazingly. 

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The frost, and the gale, emptied the walnut tree; I filled two garden bags and a garden wheelie-bin with walnut leaves. For fun, before binning, I raked them into a pile and the children jumped up and down on the four foot heap of yellow and spotted-brown. Walnut releases a perfume somewhere in the triangle of basil, lime and bay. Marvellous.

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Great to have an easterly gale at this time of year - it's taken all the leaves away from where they normally settle in drifts on the patch in front of our terrace of houses, and dumped them back in the local roads and alleyways where the council will have to pick them up. Only fair, as the trees that the said leaves have come from are on public land owned by the council

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Great to have an easterly gale at this time of year - it's taken all the leaves away from where they normally settle in drifts on the patch in front of our terrace of houses, and dumped them back in the local roads and alleyways where the council will have to pick them up. Only fair, as the trees that the said leaves have come from are on public land owned by the council

I think the council have access to the 12z ECM, I hear  they are relying on a stiff south-westerly by December 5th

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This time last year, I counted numerous crocuses shot up in the north lawn, and the daffodils outside the fire station had been blooming for almost two weeks. This year, I can't see the daffodil shoots and the crocuses haven't appeared at all.

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This time last year, I counted numerous crocuses shot up in the north lawn, and the daffodils outside the fire station had been blooming for almost two weeks. This year, I can't see the daffodil shoots and the crocuses haven't appeared at all.

 

Hi Bert.

Maybe the forecast warm weather will bring them on a bit this week.

I noticed a bit of yellow showing on some primrose buds today.

I went down to my apiary to do a few jobs yesterday and one of the little beggars crawled inside my shirt and got me a good one on my ribs!

Roger

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Any general tips on roses for a total amateur?.

I am working in a garden full of all sorts that haven't been looked after for at least six years from information I have gathered.

Do I cut all to 1..5 feet and open the centre and cut out dead wood?.

Anything would help advice wise.Long stems(3-4 foot) straight,crossing,ground shoots.

In general it's a total mess but I would love to tidy it up for spring and don't really know what to do?.

The owner is not a rose fan but doesn't want them dug out.

I understand they are hardy plants,but that's as far as it goes.I've looked up varieties and know some are tea and patio types.

I've looked up about nodes,direction and where to cut during the growing season but some of these things are so tall and stringy with few leaves.

I need a quick general clean up and want to save them but don't want to mess them up.

Please help.

 

Fancy meeting you here old Boy?

R.H.S. did a study in the 80's on rose tree pruning. they took three groups, one they pruned to outward facing buds and cleared the centres, one the did a bit of that and a bit of just chopping the last was just hacked at  ( chainsaw massacre stylee).

They found no difference in the end results! all flowered as well as the 'professionally pruned' tress/bushes.

As such I just cut them back to a size I want leaving 3 or 4 buds/leaves on a branch?

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Fancy meeting you here old Boy?

R.H.S. did a study in the 80's on rose tree pruning. they took three groups, one they pruned to outward facing buds and cleared the centres, one the did a bit of that and a bit of just chopping the last was just hacked at  ( chainsaw massacre stylee).

They found no difference in the end results! all flowered as well as the 'professionally pruned' tress/bushes.

As such I just cut them back to a size I want leaving 3 or 4 buds/leaves on a branch?

Lol.

Hi old dog.

Cheers for the advice.

I think that's the way I might have to go this time around as they haven't been looked after for years.

I  moved into a house in Essex several years ago. All the roses and a few other shrubs were overgrown.  I got out the shears and cut them down to a foot.. The roses all came on very well that year.. Some of the shrubs survived but some had to be pulled out... The roses remained in the garden for nine years and still doing well when I moved..

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Sounds good Art...Thanks.
Seems they are a hardy plant.
Can't wait to get stuck in.

Lol.

Hi old dog.

Cheers for the advice.

I think that's the way I might have to go this time around as they haven't been looked after for years.

Yes I'd agree with that advice. Don't worry about pruning to an outward facing bud etc if they've been neglected. Cut them all right back and completely cut out any dead wood to open them up and they'll flower again next year. 

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Any general tips on roses for a total amateur?.

I am working in a garden full of all sorts that haven't been looked after for at least six years from information I have gathered.

Do I cut all to 1..5 feet and open the centre and cut out dead wood?.

Anything would help advice wise.Long stems(3-4 foot) straight,crossing,ground shoots.

In general it's a total mess but I would love to tidy it up for spring and don't really know what to do?.

The owner is not a rose fan but doesn't want them dug out.

I understand they are hardy plants,but that's as far as it goes.I've looked up varieties and know some are tea and patio types.

I've looked up about nodes,direction and where to cut during the growing season but some of these things are so tall and stringy with few leaves.

I need a quick general clean up and want to save them but don't want to mess them up.

Please help.

 

Hello Tony.

Agree with advice already planted on here. Just add: prune so the pruned branch/stem's pruned plane faces up for stems you want to continue proliferating- rainwater will soak the planed face.  

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Cheers all round guys.
I'm gonna go for it.