By Isle of Wight Observer
There has certainly been a change in the weather recently, with some welcome rain, but also some very damp and humid air moving in from the south-west. The forecast ahead looks to be a mix of sunshine and showers, with temperatures as they would normally be at this time of year.
I’m sure you will have noticed how quickly everything has greened up; lawns and plants are beginning to recover from the summer drought. Now that are plants are putting on a late burst of growth, it’s a good time to take some cuttings from things such as Penstemons, Pelargoniums and Salvias. Dahlias are finally blooming how they should, but with the damp air coming in it’s best to pick them young before they damp off. Feed weekly with tomato food, high potash, as this will help strengthen the plant and put energy into the tubers ready for next year. Also, watch out for mildew, as this will spread rapidly at this time of year.
It’s a good time to start tidying up the garden before the wet weather kicks in, so jobs, like hedge-cutting and clearing vegetable plots while the ground is workable, are good to do now. I’ve already started clearing my sweet pea beds ready for planting out again next year.
When we do get a wet day or two, then it’s a good time to get in the greenhouse or polytunnel and have a good tidy up. Wash surfaces down with a disinfectant to kill off any nasties. I’ll be cleaning out one of my polytunnels ready for my late flowering Chrysanthemums to go in. They are grown outdoors for most of the year but need indoor protection while they flower. If you don’t know what late flowering Chrysanthemums look like, then put November 7 in your diaries. There’s going to be a show, in Brighstone, where you can come along and see them up close and learn all about them. My dad, Bryan Everest, top Chrysanthemum grower for many years, will be on hand to answer any questions.
More gardening tips next month.