Failing to prepare

An old friend of mine once said yonks ago "failing to prepare is preparing to fail" and I laughed and took the mickey out of him and wondered how on earth he could be so boring (I was young at the time!). As I get older though I am trying to slow down and do things properly and am enjoying seeing the results.

At Heale, HG and I have been preparing some of the Veg garden for next year's rewards and although it takes time and can be hard work, it is most certainly worth it. We started stripping out crops that were over (Beet, Chard, Cabbages) and cropping those still going (Salad leaves, Carrots, Mooli). Then to prepare the soil for next year.

HG has worked out the crop rotation so where I was digging I was working in compost into the trench and where he was digging, he was digging a trench and backfilling as he went. We worked out that Double Digging has the term "B*****d trenching" and wondered if there is a female equivalent! In this case, the soil is removed to a spits depth and the trench has manure incorporated (ideally to a second spits depth). My Granddad's book describes it below:

As you go along the plot, digging a trench , removing soil, digging in manure, digging another trench, you need to rake the excess back. After a lot of work you end up with the most beautifully prepared bed, ready for the Winter to break it down and you do nothing else to it until next year. Bingo!

In my bed will be Sweet peas, lucky flowers will get a good start.

The light yesterday at Heale was glorious, Halloween, last day of October and it was 21 degrees with a glow all over the garden. A perfect day for digging.

The day before, I worked with HG and Andrew bringing the Sundial garden up to scratch. We cut back, tidied, weeded and raked. The Nepeta and Lavender needed attention, Hornbeam hedges needed edging and weeding and we also planned out an extension to one of the hedges. More Hornbeam to block an entrance. Marked out turf with canes and string. HG pointed out how tolerant and hardy Hornbeam is as it is actually near the river and copes with flooding each year!

Lots still to see in the garden, the leaves are still hanging on and the colours are superb. Dahlias, Salvia, even the Asparagus gets in on the game and turns a beautiful yellow.

 Almost dark as I head for home now......