Preparation is everything in an organic garden, and
preparation and planning are what these dark and short winter days
are for. I have
made a comprehensive plan for the garden next season by this time
of the year, and am ready to make the changes necessary for next
year’s crops.
Digging the open beds
is a job I really look forward to, when weather permits out comes
the Ladies’ Digging
Spade…
I like getting this done before
the New Year, if possible, as I believe it makes for a finer soil
next season as the frosts and worms will finish the
job.
We have several
Raised
Beds some of which are new
to the garden this autumn. These are
filled with
different growing mediums according to what is to be grown in them,
whether it be fruit, brassicas, root or another vegetable variety,
all have differing needs. Sand is to be dug into the deepest beds
for carrots to be sown, rich compost and well rotted manure fills
the strawberry beds, and homemade Compost gives
vitality and structure to the majority of those
remaining.
Potatoes are ordered by
now; (this is one aspect of garden life I relish), consulting with
Stephanie as to what she liked last year, what she did not ,and
what was missing from her potato harvest. You can build on your
experience year-on-year, and to make this easier it’s worth
searching out a notebook or journal to keep track.
I know from my records what cropped well, how and when it was
grown, and can use this information to inform my choices this year.
More early planted and harvested
salad spuds are required, together with an all round
selection including main crop storers, mashers and
roasters.
I will be using one of our many Irrigation
Systems for both Potato
Planters and Raised
Beds as this will improve yields. Another
note ...I will be using Link-a-Bord to form an
'earthing-up' box; this will be placed over the spud plants when
they need covering up and filled-in adding
growing space.
As for growing the potatoes, a good thick winter mulch of
well-rotted manure, rotovating, Organic
Fertiliser, planting in a trench, regular
earthing-up, Mulching while
growing and watering profusely at flower set, all combine to give a
great main bed crop.
Mice are a real problem at
this time of year. Heavy
Glass Victorian cloches seem to put them off a bit
but they will dig under any barrier if they feel at all persistent,
because of this I will be mouse-proofing the cold frame with Wire
Netting,
Caging any winter sowings of
legumes
with more wire
netting and placing Glass Bell Jar
Cloches on top of Terracotta
Long Toms to form a safe growing
spot.
Rhubarb
Forcers take their place on top of crowns at the
start of the new year here in the garden. Put down some
Slug
Protection first as those pesky molluscs love a
moist and dark hidey hole.
I am really looking
forward to those longer days, but until then I will squeeze in all
the garden work I can during daylight and use the remainder to
plan, plot and scheme my way to bounteous harvests next
year.
