The October garden

Well, it seems the September garden didn't happen ! Sorry folks, my fault, I was preoccupied doing stuff with C-H Jnr while he was still about, and gardening isn't it for him !

Actually, in my garden and allotment, this year pretty much didn't happen.  Starting the year on crutches, then a terrible growing year.  But onwards and upwards - I tidied up at the allotment a bit, found some kale which is looking healthy and a bit of broccoli. I'm also well equipped for red cabbages.  Rouge tete noir from real seeds seems fairly trouble free.  At least I have a good pile of manure to hopefully improve my results nest year. And a lot of compost from all the weeds and failed crops

I'm busy trying to do prep work for winter and next year. I want to build another raised bed, plus a mini one for my apple tree. The tree is to be grown as a 45° cordon at the back of the fruit cage. However, as the ground in the cage had to be levelled, the back is right down to the rock layer. I can break this up a bit and roots will penetrate it (as I found to my cost when clearing established shrubs from the ground prior to putting up the fruit cage), but I think a raised area to get the young tree established will probably benefit it.

I've spent this afternoon planting my other apple tree in the ground. That, and the cordon, are my own grafts from a single early-mid season eater from my London garden.

Lots to do in the garden, and realistically only about 5 or 6 weeks before the weather really closes in.

A word of thanks to whoever put these Calendula into the seed swap years ago. I've never been without them since, and the volunteers have somehow made it from the garden to my allotment, where I let them be as companion plants and a source of joy.

Well, my allotment is probably at the best it has been all year. The kale is magnificent. Beetroot and leeks looking fairly good, and I have some small but hopefully edible fennel. A few squashes, and Mrs C-H picked a goodly few Greek gigandes beans yesterday.

The kale went into a hortopita - Greek phylo pastry pie with feta and greens - last night. Had the remains for lunch, nice it was too.