A little history of British Gardening by Jenny Uglow

Something to read during the winter months when the weather holds back on any actual gardening.  This book is a fascinating read and a delight. I was given it by a friend, and what a discovery.  Jenny Uglow really makes gardening history easily readable, not dry or dull, but a tour from the Romans to the present century and this is not about agriculture, but horticulture and gardening. Over the ages which flowers and plants were to be found displayed gardens, how they got to Britain, and gardening trends through different times.   The chapters chart the development of gardening, both practical and popular, and woven into the text are interesting details. The book is made so readable by Jenny Uglow’s easy style by which a subject which could be dry, is entertaining and interesting; it is so well researched and written I would really recommend it. The book  is available in all the usual places and she has a web site http://www.jennyuglow.com

November is an ideal time to plant Tulips and I am out with the bulb planter. Tulips are on the long list of plants I find irresistible, even though I replant each year and clearly the mice like the bulbs as much as I do. One year no tulips came up at all and I guess the mice were too fat to climb out of the holes by the spring. For more  information about planting Tulips and I always use a long-handled bulb planter it takes some of the effort out if you are planting lots of bulbs. I can take or leave daffodils with the exception perhaps of the scented ones, but that's how it is with gardening. Everyone has their own tastes but the common enjoyment of being out in the garden creating what you enjoy. This time of year I am thinking about next season, what to move now, what to plant in the spring and how to do it better next year. Gardening in the Autumn makes me feel optimistic, looking forward to another gardening year.

You can also plant Lilies and Garlic at this time of year follow the links for more information 

The Autumn sown sweet peas have germinated well and put on plenty of early growth. Within a week or so I will nip them back just as we do with Spring sown peas to encourage the peas to bush out and not become too leggy and spindly. These sweet peas will be kept in the greenhouse over the winter to be hardened off in the spring ready for planting out. The hope is that these sweet peas will be bigger, and flower earlier, than the ones which I will sow in early Spring, that's the plan. For more about sowing Autumn sweet peas check out  http://tiny.cc/3dhk5w

If you are thinking of growing sweet peas next year there are hints and tips for a great summer display. Sweet peas can be sown in the Autumn or Spring and now is a good time to look on line and in the seed catalogues where are the great varieties on sale combining beautiful colours, and above all, one of the loveliest scent of summer. 

Some grasses are just so tough and this includes Deschampsia cespitosa, tuft grass. Earlier in the year around May I was given a large unwanted plant which arrived in a bucket with some soil attached to it's roots as in the top image on the right. Unfortunately, that is how it stayed until October when I finally got round to planting it. The only attention has been the occasional water, when it was very dry and if I remembered. The image at the bottom is the grass finally planted out in October looking none the worse for its barbaric treatment.

Grasses are very tough and easy to grow and I think they look just great in a border or grouped together to create a grassy area. They are tolerant of most conditions. If you are thinking about a difficult area in the garden pick up this link for growing information about various grasses and how to mix them with easy perennial plants to create a low maintenance border.

The garden is winding down and some herbaceous plants are starting to collapse, so I have started to cut them back to be followed by a good weed and then a mulch for the winter, if I get it done in time. I noted one corner of the border where a large Hemerocallis (Day Lily) had lived for a few years but lately producing less and less flowers. I had divided it once so decided it was time to dig it up and into the compost bins. The time with some perennials which are to beshort lived when its time to start again next year. Working in the borders at this time is easier than in the Spring because everything is dying back, I am less worried about tramping on plants and breaking delicate stems.  

Some garden tasks for this time of year depend on where in the country you garden and the aspect of your garden. I have cut down the tomatoes  brought inside the unripe ones, on the vine, and laid them out in the conservatory on newspaper. With some luck and sun around 75-80% should ripen.