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GARDENING with Hadlow College


Autumn – a time gardeners associate with rustling leaves, bonfires, squirrels storing food for winter, Halloween, Guy Fawkes – and quite a lot of work!


It is not too late to plant spring- flowering bulbs — but don’t delay. Avoid planting tall tulips in locations where the stems may be snapped by gusting winds. Remember that mixing bulbs in containers can be disappointing even when packets indicate an identical flowering period — some may flower at the beginning of the month, others at the end.


be exchanged with neighbours, family and friends — or ask if a local school or charity would like to add to their garden.


Onion sets can be planted now but


remember they have a long growing period — something to consider before deciding on the location. Rather than planting a lot of one variety, select a range of colours and flavours — they are surprisingly diverse.


Check out winter salad — seed Plant bulbs for indoor flowering (check


packets and select carefully). Pots of bulbs can bring colour and scents into the house even when the weather outside is grim — and don’t overlook giving pots of bulbs as Christmas presents.


Plant wallflowers before garden


centres have sold out. Good in containers, borders and beds, this early flowering plant with its wonderful fragrance is one of the delights of early spring.


Clump-forming herbaceous plants and


grasses are best divided at this time of year. When divided, excess plants could


companies are offering increasing ranges that can be grown under cover during the winter. At the same time, investigate “window sill ranges” that can be harvested up to the spring. Garden peas are luscious, the most luscious of all is the wonderful tiny, delectable first crop; steamed gently, they are delicious with roast lamb, wonderful to accompany fish — and they can be added raw or cooked to green salads. Don’t delay — sow seeds now.


Spinach is an increasingly popular


“green” to accompany practically any meat and fish. It also makes a wonderful addition to mixed and green salads and is particularly good as the basis of a hot salad (try crisply cooked bacon tossed in tiny spinach leaves with the addition of a very light dressing; fantastic as a starter or a side dish). Select a ‘perpetual’ variety that will provide leaves throughout the winter — harvest regularly.


The needs of wildlife become greater Images supplied by Perfect Plants www.perfectplants.co.uk


as winter approaches. Ensure an area of hedge is left thick to provide shelter. Leave a few small piles of leaves in tucked-away corners where they won’t be disturbed or blown away. Set up winter feeding stations and include facilities for water. Remember that little and regular is infinitely better than excessive and infrequent — and that dirty water containers spread disease very quickly.


“It’s all in the soil” — a garden truism. It is a fact that if the soil isn’t “right” — and this relates to fertility and texture — it will be impossible to produce optimum results, and might even result in disaster. Compost is the very best soil conditioner in practically all circumstances. It assists drainage and also attracts good microorganisms that help control unwanted microorganisms.


Compost can be laid in the autumn or


before planting in the spring. One of the advantages of carrying out the job now when essential tasks are reducing in number is that time won’t be taken up in the spring when jobs mount up quickly. Also, compost-spreading is quite a strenuous job and so is best undertaken in cooler weather. And imagine the money that will be saved; a layer of compost can reduce — even eliminate — the need to apply expensive artificial fertilisers.


Editorial supplied by Pat Crawford Mid Kent Living 47


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