With all the work of harvesting, processing and planting green manures over the cleared plots, I can show this view of two plots in the process of being “winterised”: It looks barren of fruit and veg; however, the other two plots still have parsnips, leeks tomato’s and beetroot yet to harvest…not to forget, the Runner Beans who will just simply not give up.
Looove it Sjoerd. So beautiful to see how so many gardeners in your plot area have so much pride and joy of planting. The soil prep is the basis for excellent production. Always so amazing… I miss that part of gardening and hoping some day the ground squirrels will be eliminated in my country. Unfortunately the only poison that was developed for these crop root underground thieves is illegal now. Unfortunately my system of trapping them has not worked in the past few weeks as they have developed a way to reach thru the trap cage and get the peanuts and seeds ment to entice them to enter thru the doors of the trap.
Pac— thank you loads. Just to be clear though, not all gardeners in our organisation go to the extent that we do. Gardening can be done with a low or high in-put, so little or so much as one wants. We focus most on the soil, the rest just comes after that.
So neat and tidy Pac . 1st class plot management. There are some nice plots in the allotments behind our property but equally there are some very scruffy looking ones too. Normally the Allotment Committee are quick to ask the tenants to tidy up their space so perhaps they are scruffy due to the very dry summer and the limits placed on watering this year....maybe.
@Pacnorwest When I was on our farm I was trying to catch a Raccoon that was getting into my garden every night. I tried all sorts of different baits that were recommended to me from the local farmers. The racoons never sprung the trap but the bait was always gone the next morning. In desperation I went one more time to the Farmer's Coop to ask for more bait recommendations. One old guy told me to try a marshmallow. One big, fat marshmallow set in a shallow bowl right in the center. Next morning I had him !! I could see him in there from my front door so, I ran down to the trap. I had successfully caught my own cat.
Cat was a bit annoyed. It was a humane trap. It doesn't hurt the animal at all. Had I known that that cat liked marshmallows I would've kept him inside that night !!
Oh Netty— sadly it is so …at least in my part of the world. I have been enjoying it so much this season.
I have been preparing for winter for weeks but it’s a whole different meaning here in the PNW than most gardens. Trimming trees to be sailworthy for winter’s wind ,snow and ice storms. All branches touching or close to other trees are gonners.” Keeps me outta trouble as I keep saying to myself ‘. “Oh dear lord what have I created a lifetime of constant clearing trimming and scooping.” Clearing all the garden paths , arbors and sitting areas from branches . Most importantly clearing the driveway of unexpected trouble from winter’s doom. One year a long branch from a tree was weighted down from ice and frozen on to the driveway. A large eucalyptus. Couldn’t get down my driveway for almost a week. Crazy weather requires crazy clearing conditions for the garden. Ya never know what Mother Nature will do next winter. Oh did I mention the ground squirrels are stocking up their burrows too.
Clay— would you be so kind as to show some of your winterising techniques. I am always looking for tips, improvements or just simply a new way to protect and help my spoil. Pac— oh my word! You do indeed have a different set of challenges before the winter, but I can tell you that I have to do some things with my trees, bushes and arches because of our winter winds coming off the Zuider Zee and out of the interior of Europe.
Zuider Zee & out of the interior of Europe ? Sounds very worrisome! Could you elaborate a little bit?
