MICK’S TIPS

OLD SAYING

RAIN IN OCTOBER

MEANS WIND IN DECEMBER

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DID YOU KNOW

PUNKY IS ANOTHER NAME FOR A PUMPKIN WHICH HAS BEEN HOLLOWED OUT AND HAS A CANDLE STANDING INSIDE IT.

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JOBS FOR THIS MONTH

HARVEST

CARROTS THESE CAN BE DUG UP AND STORED IN PEAT OR SAND , THROUGH THE WINTER.

POTATOES ANY REMAINING IN THE SOIL CAN BE DUG UP. CHOOSE A SUNNY DAY LET THEM DRY OFF, AND PUT THESE IN PAPER SACKS AND STORE IN A FROST FREE PLACE.

RUNNER BEANS AS THEY DIE OFF, COMPOST THE FOLIAGE, BUT LEAVE THE ROOTS WHICH HAVE NITROGEN FULL NODULES.

PUMPKINS, SQUASHES, & MARROWS CONTINUE HARVESTING THESE BEFORE THE FROSTS ARRIVE.

SWEDES & CELERIAC CAN BE HARVESTED AS REQUIRED.

SOWING

JAPANESE ONION SETS THESE ARE HARDY, AND CAN NOW BE PLANTED, AND SHOULD CROP ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER THAN SPRING PLANTED VARIETIES.

SPRING CABBAGE PLANT THESE OUT NOW, AND COVER WITH NETTING TO DETER THE PIGEONS.

GARLIC TRY A VARIETY SUCH AS THERMIDROME FOR OCTOBER / NOVEMBER PLANTING. OTHER VARIETIES CAN BE PLANTED OUT IN EARLY SPRING. IT IS SAID THAT IT CAN CROP BETTER, IF IT GOES THROUGH A COLD WINTER PERIOD.

SWEET CORN CONTINUE PICKING SWEET CORN, TEST FOR RIPENESS, WHEN THE SILKS ON THE END OF THE COB HAVE TURNED TO CHOCOLATE BROWN, THESE ARE READY AND FIT TO PICK.

ASPARAGUS IF THE FOLIAGE IS TURNING BROWN, ITS TIME TO CUT IT DOWN TO APPROX 1 INCH OFF THE GROUND. REMOVE ALL DEBRIS FROM AROUND THE CROWNS TO DISCOURAGE OVER WINTERING ASPARAGUS BEETLE. MULCH WITH WELL ROTTED GARDEN COMPOST.

SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS FOR WINTER AND SPRING COLOUR, START DIGGING THEM UP. REPLACE WITH WINTER PANSIES, VIOLA’S, POLYANTHUS, WALLFLOWERS, MYOSOTIS, E.T.C. SPRING FLOWERING BULBS CAN ALSO BE PLANTED, TO GIVE A COLOURFUL DISPLAY.

BASKETS, TUBS & CONTAINERS EMPTY AND FILL WITH DAFFODIL, HYACINTHS, TULIPS BULBS, ALSO BELLIS DAISY, WINTER CYCLAMEN, WINTER PANSIES, VIOLA’S E.T.C. THE BULBS CAN BE PLANTED UNDER THE FLOWERS FOR EXTRA COLOUR.

GREENHOUSE IF NOW EMPTY, GIVE IT A GOOD CLEAN OUT, AND WASH GLASS CLEAN, ALSO CLEANING THE FRAME WILL GET RID OF PESTS E.T.C.

FRUIT PRUNE GOOSEBERRIES, BLACK & RED CURRANTS. NEW CANES OF RASPBERRIES CAN NOW BE PLANTED.

BRASSICAS REMOVE ANY YELLOWING LEAVES, AS THEY WILL ENCOURAGE BOTRYTIS TO DEVELOP.

CLEARING & CLEANING KEEP CLEARING WEEDS, LEAVES AND DEBRIS FROM YOUR GARDEN. ALSO ANY TOOLS NOT BEING USED CLEAN AND OIL TO STOP RUSTING OVER WINTER, THESE WILL THEN BE READY AND CLEAN FOR USE FOR THE NEXT GARDENING SEASON.

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OLD SAYING