Sunday 16 October 2011

Ladybird Ladybird Fly Away Home

The allotment has been neglected this weekend in favour of tidying up the garden. The jobs which had to be put off last weekend because it was raining finally got done, the rabbit hutches were moved down on to the patio for the winter, the garden had a general tidy up and even the grass got a final mow. I make sure that I don't tidy the border up too much though as the birds like to forage for seeds and the insects need somewhere to sleep over winter. The ladybirds were out with us enjoying another sunny weekend, though the temperature didn't rise to the same height as it did a fortnight ago.

A job which I didn't get round to doing is sorting out the greenhouse. The tomato plants have finished producing now so they need to be removed and the greenhouse needs a thorough washing down which will help to remove any nasties which are hiding in there. I'll be able to move my tender plants in to the greenhouse for winter as I'm sure it won't be long now until we get our first frost.

Although I haven't done any jobs at the allotment this weekend, I do need to pop down there this afternoon to see what needs harvesting. I'm amazed that I've still got beans to pick, and I know that there's a couple of pumpkins that really need removing from the plant now. I shall carve them for Halloween.


17 comments:

  1. I finally removed my tomato plants today and moved some tender plants into the greenhouse as we had our first frost this weekend. haven't got round to washing it down yet though!

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  2. I've been in the garden, too, tidying up the tomatoes. I've still got the Ildi and the outdoor tomatoes producing fruit. I've been making tomato soup with all the excess. I picked 5 cucumbers today aswell.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  3. We had some dry weather today too (finally). Washed the sunroom which acts as my greenhouse. Was staring at my 4 tomato plants wondering should I clear them but I left them. We should get frost any time, huh! All the best, Kelli.

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  4. All it takes is a bit of fine weather to get us going and do all those jobs that keep piling up - it's been great weather this weekend so I've got lots done as well.

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  5. Sounds like you've been really busy in the garden...I am still so behind on everything it isn't funny but I have some time off work in a couple of weeks so I am hoping to seriously get into it then...no matter what the weather!!

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  6. We had a hard frost here this morning. Hope the ladybirds find decent lodgings for the winter.

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  7. I like the ladybird picture! However much we do there always still seems lots to do. Flighty xx

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  8. My tidying-up job this weekend was picking up the last of the Crab Apples - of which there have been millions this year. Also removed my Autumn pea plants, which had developed a bad case of mildew.

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  9. It's a bit sad putting the garden to bed isn't it? We cleared out our tomato plants this weekend.

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  10. yes, clearing the tomato plants from the greenhouse is on my list for this week. I'm still harvesting a couple each day and taking them indoors to ripen. I really need the space to store all my pots for the winter but I hate pulling up plants before they're properly finished...

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  11. We're running in tandem again. I've been moving tender plants into the greenhouse as soon as space is made by cutting down tomatoes - still some to do though - must admit we don't actually wash down our greenhouse. I like to leave the seed heads and dead top growth for the birds too - it also helps protect the plants from frost damage and we getpighbown the bonus of self seeded plants.

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  12. It has been a really good year for ladybirds. I've had so many at the allotment. We're meant to get a frost by the end of the week so I need to crack on with a long list of jobs to do.

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  13. You're ahead of me, Su. My tomato plants are still waiting to be removed, I'm hoping to get it done this week so I can move my tender plants in.

    My cucumbers have been rubbish this year, Mum. It sounds like both your cucumbers and tomatoes have done well for you.

    Glad to hear you've had some dry weather at last, Kelli. We just need a few more dry days now so that we can get some more jobs done.

    We got lots done in the garden, Elaine, but there's plenty more jobs to do at the allotment. A few more fine days would be very welcome.

    There's always something conspiring against us, Tanya, if it isn't the weather it's lack of time. My allotment has been neglected of late so I need to put some hours in there too.

    We haven't had a hard frost yet, Don't unplug your hub. Hubby bought me a ladybird house last Christmas so I'm hoping that some ladybirds will take up residence in there.

    Thanks, Flighty. We seem to have got plenty done in the garden over the weekend, but there's still plenty of jobs to do, you're right.

    Sorry to hear about your pea plants, Mark. My earlier peas suffered from mildew. I'm wondering if crab apple jelly is on the menu after your tidying up.

    It is sad putting the garden to bed, Mo, but I'm excited at the propect of starting all over again in the new year.

    Greenhouse space is at a premium here too, Suburban veg gardener. I need to evict my tomato plants so that I've got some space to overwinter my tender plants.

    My greenhouse definitely needs a good wash down, Sue. I really need to get the tender plants in the greenhouse sooner rather than later, it can't be long now until we get a frost.

    It seems like we've all got a long lost of jobs to do, Wellywoman. I've seen lots of ladybirds this year too, though they should be looking for somewhere to bed down now before the frosts arrive.

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  14. Ah yes not looking forward to the annual greenhouse clean!

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  15. I can't say it's something I enjoy doing either, Damo. At least I don't have to think about it again for a while once it's done.

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  16. I would so love a greenhouse...

    It's getting warm ehre but the storms! A greenhouse would be handy in hail...

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  17. My greenhouse is only small, Mrs Bok. It's certainly not big enough to spend time in there doing anything but it's very handy for growing my tomatoes in.

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