A Wintry Scene

Woke up this morning to find about 4 inches of snow had fallen overnight. The garden looks magical under a carpet of snow.
Luckily I had managed to rake up the last of the leaves from the lawn, tidy the borders and sweep the paths before the snow fell. The prunings from the borders and the leaves were piled onto the compost heap. Plants in pots which are not fully hardy have been moved into the greenhouse and the cloche.
Extra seeds and fatballs have been put out for the birds and the snow has been cleared from the driveway. Now I can curl up in front of the fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and read my gardening magazines with a view to planning a new seating and barbecue area for next summer.
If more snow falls tonight I will have to go out tomorrow and shake it off the shrubs and conifers which could be damaged by the weight.

Crop Rotation

When planting vegetables you must consider crop rotation even in the smallest veg patch. Growing the same type of vegetable in the same spot each season will encourage diseases to build up in the soil.

Vegetables fall into three main groups:-
1. 'Root crops' which include beetroot, carrots, parsnips and potatoes.
2. 'Brassicas' which include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and sprouts.
3. 'Others' such as peas, beans, onions and leeks.

Divide your veg patch into three plots. Grow any group of veg in one plot only one year in three, rotating with the other two groups. In this way the disease is denied its host plant and is unlikely to build up in the soil.

The Winter Veg Patch

This year I have planted curly kale and leeks to see me through the winter months. Both are very easy to grow. Seeds can be planted directly into the soil in May or planted into trays in the greenhouse and transplanted into the veg patch in June or July. As I am lucky enough to have a greenhouse, I sow my seeds under glass and plant them out in early summer.
Leeks are tough, hardy plants which will survive a hard frost and therefore make a good winter vegetable. Plant in rows 12 inches apart with the plants spaced at 9 inch intervals. Curly kale always tastes best after a good frost. Pick the young leaves at the top of the plant. These plants just seem to keep on growing giving a lovely supply of fresh greens throughout the winter. Curly kale should be planted in rows 12 inches apart with the plants spaced similar to leeks. Plant your winter veg near the path so you can easily access them in bad weather.

A Wildlife Garden

Now is the time for tidying and preparing the garden for winter but don't be too tidy. If you want to attract wildlife to your garden let a corner or two go a bit wild. Leave seed heads on plants for the birds and pile some logs in a corner to encourage hedgehogs and insects. If you have a dry stone wall this is an excellent habitat for insects. I have a small dry stone wall at the bottom of my garden which is home to solitary bees.
Leave some leaf litter in your borders as this will provide cover for overwintering insects.
Bird feeders are a good way to help the birds survive winter and they give an immense amount of pleasure from watching the different varieties of birds they attract. Bird baths are a useful source of water, especially in very cold weather when the ponds freeze over. Put up bird boxes to attract nesting birds, making sure they are safely out of reach of the local cats.
Our gardens are increasingly becoming a haven for wildlife as natural habitats shrink and sometimes disappear altogether. Planting native trees and plants which will support a wider range of insect life, incorporating berry producing shrubs together with plants which attract bees and butterflies and ensuring your garden is a bird friendly area will make a huge difference. If you have room for a pond this will add another exciting dimension to your garden, attracting frogs and toads, water beetles and stunningly beautiful dragonflies. If you have very young children you may want to consider a wetland area which is a safer option but will still attract wildlife.

Autumn

This has been a truly beautiful autumn with amazing leaf colour, but now the weather has changed and autumn gales are bringing down the last of the leaves. They may look untidy but fallen leaves can be put to good use making leafmould. Just gather up your fallen leaves and leave them to rot down. Running a mower over them before raking them up or putting them through a shredder will hasten the process. Make sure the leaves are damp and store them in bin liners with a few holes stabbed in the sides. Tie up the tops of the bags and store them in a corner of the garden. By the middle of next year the leafmould should be ready to use.
Leafmould can be used to replace peat in homemade potting composts. Mix it with your garden compost and top dress containers and borders or dig it into the veg patch. It's free and far too good to go to waste.

This is the time to plant tulip bulbs in the first half of November. Tulips like a sunny spot and if your soil is heavy plant the bulbs on a layer of grit to prevent the base sitting in water. I find that my tulips do much better in containers and add a welcome splash of colour to the patio in spring. After flowering let the foliage die down naturally, then lift and store the bulbs for replanting in the autumn. Lilies can also be planted between now and the end of April, whenever the soil is workable. If your soil is heavy lay the bulbs on a layer of sharp sand to improve the drainage. I grow lilies both in pots and in the borders. The smaller Asiatic variety is especially suitable for container growing and gives a colourful but fairly short-lived display on the patio.