Return Of ThameNews.Net’s Monthly Gardening News Letter From Jane Follis

I THINK we can formally say it is now Autumn. The leaves are falling and the nights drawing in. How depressing it was yesterday to see it dark by 5.30 ? it?s all downhill now until next March!! This time of year is great for gardening though and there is still plenty to do, not least raking up leaves.
Don?t take them to the tip. If you have space, gather them up and bag them in black plastic bags, compact well and tie the tops. Pierce a few holes in them. Store in a cool place and you will have wonderful leaf mould by this time next year. Alternatively buy biodegradable bags from www.netherwalloptrading.com called ?Love ?em and Leave ?em?.

The bulb order is due to arrive this week and once I have sorted them I will arrange for delivery and planting over the next couple of weeks.

We are really busy at the moment putting a lot of gardens to bed and taking advantage of the mild weather to split perennials and increase stock. We also have a lot of planting to do and again this is a great time of year to plant new shrubs and trees, particularly as they are available as bare roots between now and next March.

I have lots of design work to do with some very exciting projects and plenty of new enquiries coming in. This is going to keep me very busy over the winter months, although I am hoping to have a short break in November in lieu of my aborted holiday.

Friday sees Jeremy and I in our glad rags and off to London. Jeremy entered one of our gardens for a Bali award and out of 300 entrants we are down to the last five and guaranteed an award. We?ll let you know how we get on. The London Hilton will be a far cry from wet and windy sites and it will be great to meet up with other designers and contractors.

RECIPE
Roasted Squash with Roasted Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
2 small squash Extra Virgin Oil
1 Red Chilli Marjoram
Cherry tomatoes Red Onions
Feta Seasoning
Preheat the oven to 180 or Gas 4. Cut the squash into
quarters and scrape out the seeds. Lay them, flesh side
up and drizzle with the oil. Season with salt and roast
in the oven for about 35 minutes until they look slightly
caramelised around the edges.
Peel and slice onions and spread out on a baking tray.
Sprinkle with sugar, some balsamic vinegar and olive oil
and mix together before roasting for about 30 minutes,
turning occasionally.
Half way through the cooking, place the tomatoes on
another baking tray, drizzle with oil and season. Roast
for about 15 minutes. Allow both to cool.
Crumble the feta cheese. Pile the roasted squash and
tomatoes on to individual plates and scatter over the
roasted red onions. Arrange the Feta over the top and
spoon over a little more olive oil.
This is lovely as a starter or main meal with some
crunchy bread, such as Ciabatta.

SEASONAL TIPS
Plant bulbs. Remember to plant two and a half times
the size of the bulb when digging the hole. I think the best way to achieve a naturalised look is to throw the bulbs on to the ground and plant them where they land. This avoids uniform rows. You can continue to cut down perennials and if they are very large split them into new plants (see October). If you have the space it is a good idea to heel them in whilst you decide where you are going to put them. My
vegetable patch is full of all sorts of goodies waiting to be re-planted. Do remember to give them a name tag as they will be unrecognisable as we head into winter.
Remember not to cut down grasses. They can be trimmed if they are slightly out of control, but many of them just need thinning out. Just run your hands through them to take out the thatch and they will rejuvenate next year quite happily. I like to leave the seed heads on as they look quite majestic with frost and spider?s webs during the winter months.
Lift and store dahlias and cannas. Although we have
already experienced a few frosts I don?t think any have been too damaging. Keep an eye on the forecasts and if we are threatened with minus anything it might be wise to fleece the most delicate of specimens,
particularly Phormiums and Agapanthus if they have
been planted this year. More established ones should be ok, but if in doubt give me a ring and I will advise.
Spike and aerate the lawn and work in a topdressing
by brushing it into the holes formed by aerating. This
is a really tedious task, but benefits the lawn immensely.
Plant roses, shrubs and trees. If you order bare root
check when they first arrive and if they look in the least bit dry, water for several hours before planting.
If you have new borders to plant, or indeed the vegetable patch, now is a good time to dig over thoroughly and add good farmyard manure, rotted garden compost or other bulky organic matter. This will help break down the soil ready for planting in the spring.
Check stakes and tree ties before the winter weather sets in.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT GARDEN
Keep watering if we get dry spells.
Lift and store root vegetables. Many can remain in
the ground but species such as potato, celeriac and
beetroot will suffer in the frosts.
Sow broad beans (Super Aquadulce is particularly
frost resistant) and lettuces.
Clear away the debris of summer crops, such as
Runner Beans and Tomatoes and store the supports.
Start winter digging (see above). The frosts will also help to break down the soil over the winter.
Fruit canes can all be planted out, as can garlic.
Winter prune apples and pears and prune grapes after the leaves have fallen. Apply grease bands to protect against winter moth. Spray peaches and nectarines against peach leaf curl.
Lift and divide Rhubarb crowns.

GREENHOUSE
Fix bubble wrap inside glass houses for insulation
and check your heaters are working. Reduce watering
and feeding.
Remember to remove dead and dying material on any
plants to avoid botrytis (grey mould).
If you have any green tomatoes left on plants they
are unlikely to ripen now. Take them off the plant and
bring indoors by placing them with some already ripe
tomatoes or even a banana. I used my last three at the
weekend!
Sow lettuces ready for harvesting in March.
If you haven?t already done so, clean out the gutters and keep the glass clean to let in as much light as possible.

NOTE:
It is very difficult for me to cover everything that is happening in the garden. For more information on
specific jobs go to:
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp

PLACES TO VISIT:
RHS WISLEY
The new glasshouse is now open and is the size of ten tennis courts.
This month has a display of Chrysanthemums 6th
November ? 11th December

Christmas Shopping Evenings 6-9pm, 20th? 24th November
Christmas Craft Fair 9.00am ? 9.00pm Tuesday
9.00am ? 5.00pm Wednesday ? Friday and
9.00am ? 4.30pm ?Saturday

27th November – Flower arranging ? the Magic of Christmas, 10.15 ? 12.15 then lunch and a guided walk at1.00pm.
Members