Slow down

Autumn is upon us and the gardens are slowing down their production and growth. Always plenty to do but I am cropping less Beans, a few Courgettes and possibly the last batch of Cucamelons.

I have really enjoyed watching the Cucamelon grow and hunting for the tiny fruits amongst lots of leaves trailing up their supports. I still feel like I have found a jewel each time I see one.

More veg is on the way though, we planted out Spinach and Rocket yesterday. We would be planting lots of Kale but it is being chomped big time. Even leaving a tray of Kale out, you turn your back and leaves have been removed and shoved down the box hedging. Woman versus Bank Vole. The Bank Vole is most certainly winning right now! I have attempted one last planting using just three plants under cloche this time instead of netting or fleece. The cloches have ends and are pretty sturdy. We shall see (secretly I hold out no hope as the little fellas burrow and squeeze their way into everything but must keep trying!)

It is bumper fruit season and we have cropped Plums, Blackberries, Pears and endless Apples. The Apple tunnels at Heale produce different varieties, some names are lost but some remain, Ellisons Orange being one. Lots of Apples need clearing despite the Bank Voles doing an impressive job at eating them but there are less wasps around so the task is less fraught with danger now! We pruned the Blackberry (Rubus fructicosus 'Oregon Thornless") and re-trained in the new shoots onto the fruit cage. A lovely pruning job, especially as the plant is thornless.

The Dahlia beds are thriving right now, beautiful shapes and colours. I really like the dark reds of cultivars such as 'Arabian Night'. I don't usually like pink but there is one called 'Hillcrest Royal' which has a zing about it and I really like the petal formation.

I got to spend time in some of the other areas of Heale this week, known as the Top Terrace, where we transplanted beautiful bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') and Bearded Iris. The Fennel had rather taken over, they have enormous strong solid root systems. We were also removing a bit of a weed, Galega or Goat's Rue. It is a pretty Pea like foliage but self seeds and ends up popping up everywhere. 

Pruning will be a big feature of our work in the garden from now on, I started with some Lonicera and we will be continuing with Vines and many Wisteria and of course the Roses will need attention at some point. Much to come and cooler misty mornings with bright skies. I LOVE Autumn.