thewesternisles.co.uk

Western Isles Gardening

September Garden Page

I cannot believe that autumn is almost upon us already. Where do the days go? The moor has turned to its autumnal coat of russet and red and the garden is beginning to seed. The weather we have from here on will determine how long the flowers still in bloom will last and I hope it’s long enough for me to enjoy the gladioli! At this time of year I leave nothing to chance and bring in arm fulls of flowers to enjoy indoors before the gales and rain turn them black. It is the time of the harvest now. Bringing in the fruits of our labours, storing, bottling, preserving and drying all that which will not keep in the ground. I have had an abundant year with the mild and reasonably warm summer; I even had ripe tomatoes and plenty of courgettes. My aubergines did nothing at all though and this was their last chance to prove themselves! The leeks are doing great, my best ever crop. My potatoes in bags didn’t do so well though, maybe because I didn’t water them enough. I shall either not bother next year or do it differently. I do not have the ground space, so any suggestions would be gratefully received. My thoughts are already focusing towards next year. Now that the soil in the front garden has been improved considerably over the last four years, I may well grow less flowers and use the space for vegetables. I will be growing lots of calendula though as it seems to keep away cabbage root fly. I am also hoping to grow plants for natural dyeing.

Things to be getting on with in the garden are, pruning rambling roses, sow winter lettuce, pot up freesias. Take rose cuttings, Plant daffodils, ripen onions, (I have put mine in the greenhouse to ripen), lift and store carrots and beetroot, sow early summer cauliflower for planting next spring, sow/plant out spring cabbage.

And of course there is always the general tidy up, dead heading and pulling up annuals that have finished. Seed gathering of plants like lupins, foxgloves, marigolds and any others you wish to keep. Note that some plants like lupin will revert back to type, so even if you have beautiful pink lupins, seed saved will be the usual blue.

I hope that you enjoy the proceeds of your hard work and may your larders be full and plentiful for the coming winter.

Please do send any pictures or gardening tips and I will add them to the next garden page.

Ela
Callanish 2008

 

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New Western Isles Web Site Stornoway Farmer's Market Fresh Fruit & Vegetables from Local growers

The Stornoway Arch Project Needs Volunteers They grow affordable organic produce for low income families in the Western Isles Garden in Polytunnels...

Peaches, grapes, tomatoes and other salad crops are grown on The Poly Croft on the Isle of Lewis Visit the web site for growing tips and location details of the most North Westerly vineyard in the UK...

 

The wildflowers in your
Western Isles garden
can indicate what plants
like your soil, will grow well
Western Isles Wild Flowers

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