All change in the greenhouse too

Greenhouse contents change with the seasons too. Anyone who peeped into ours two weeks ago and did so again today, would recognise the transformation. Gone from the border are the vigorous tomato vines that supported a healthy crop – the green remnants of which are ripening in an open tray in a spare room. They’ve been replaced by pots of chrysanthemums which spent summer outdoors and have been brought under cover to bloom.

The main variety is ‘Gompie’, a white decorative type. Among them stands a big pot of chilli pepper, ‘Hungarian Black’, while bunches of ‘Black Hamburg’ grapes, highlighted by the removal of vine leaves, dangle enticingly overhead. A winter leaf lettuce crop has been sown, some in the border, more in pots, and a few potatoes (Charlotte) are started in containers with Christmas dining in mind. The crop needs ten to 12 weeks of growing time, and this variety always delivers the goods.

Meanwhile, a dozen pots of late chrysanthemums are marking time outside. They’ll replace the current border beauties in late October/ November, depending on weather conditions.

I’m also anticipating leaf-fall from the peach tree, then we can spur prune with accuracy. It excelled with fruit once again this year.

Despite the arrival of autumn, there’s still an attractive display of streptocarpus blooms that covers six metres of greenhouse bench space, but that will change soon.

They can’t stand the cold, need a minimum of 8C to survive winter, so one of each variety must transfer to the conservatory in late October along with the rooted leaf cuttings taken as backup.

Meanwhile, I’m easing off their watering, removing spent flower stems and enjoying the kaleidoscope of colour.