My gardening diary
MONDAY Now that its leaves have fallen, you can see that the Cercis siliquastrum, or Judas tree, that my mum grew from a pod she found on the pavement in Portugal, is smothered in seed pods. They look like blackened pea pods. If we grew all the seeds we could populate Devon with its progeny!
TUESDAY Several years ago several apple pips germinated. They were collected from one apple with a particularly fruity flavour. Four of them grew well and they were planted in the hedge that separates the garden from the field. One fruited last year with small red apples. Another one bore fruit for the first time this year, just three big, yellowy-green apples. They were so delicious we might grow more by grafting them this winter.
WEDNESDAY Raking up leaves is an everyday activity now, but we’re noticing as we do, especially in the area under the trees on the east side of the track, some of the perennials and ground cover are looking decidedly hungry. There’s a lot of competition there from tree roots, more so each year as tree roots grow. We’re thinking of mulching with compost and perhaps ro ed muck here and there to feed the plants.
THURSDAY Next year four large concrete planters – and I mean large – should have been moved into place in the field next door. They’ll retain the bank and become our new veg garden. The debate about whether or not we can go ahead and steal the present deep beds that have been used almost exclusively for veg, as a nursery bed for perennials, is ongoing!
FRIDAY Time to rationalise our seed collection. We have masses. The best idea would be to donate all those we’ll never use to schools and community gardens. Much time and care has gone into cleaning them and they shouldn’t go to waste.
SATURDAY The paths between the raised beds in the lower part of the garden have been so neglected this year. The paths are all gravel but, at the moment, some of them are green in places with willow herb, bi ercress and grass. Having weeded them we might use a flame gun to burn off seed.
SUNDAY We thought that a tray of Hesperis matronalis that had been left on the side of one of the raised beds outside the shed, had died. I was feeling deeply ashamed of myself when I realised that most had rose es of healthy leaves. They’re going straight into the ground and this whole area will be a paradise of perfume each evening next May.